After opening its first location in Squirrel Hill in 1980, popular breakfast spot Pamela’s will debut its sixth Pittsburgh restaurant in May. Located at 427 Washington Rd. in
Mt. Lebanon, the restaurant brings a new breakfast destination to the bustling suburb.
Located within a space owned by Dyke Automotive, the 2,200-square-foot eatery will seat 80 people. The instant owners Gail Klingensmith and Pam Cohen spotted the space’s original Italian marble floor, they knew they had struck gold. “Sometimes you’ve got to go with your gut. It was really a gift. We love the neighborhood—it’s a great fit,” says Klingensmith, a North Hills resident with a fondness for the South Hills. “We know a good location—it’s next to churches, within walking distance to
Rollier’s, across the street from
condos being constructed, and near a
Marriott that's coming. That's all icing on the cake.”
Utilizing Cohen’s creativity, Pamela’s will be designed in the 1950s-era space-age Googie style. Its retro décor will feature amoeba-shaped lighting, orange and blue boomerang tabletops, vintage counters and framed fabric panels. Muralist
Sandy Kessler-Kaminski is painting Pamela’s parachute cloth sign. Contractor is
Advance Construction Services.
The restauranteurs have been received with open arms by the property owner and municipality. “I’ve received so many calls from people offering to help. They’re so enthusiastic—it makes this doable,” adds Klingensmith, who says Pamela’s employs 95 people. “We’ve grown one by one. We keep getting better. It’s fun to take your mistakes and not remake them.”
Pamela’s most popular items are specialty hotcakes and Tex-Mex omelets. New items such as sweet potato hash will be debuted in Mt. Lebanon.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Gail Klingensmith, Pamela's
Image courtesy Pamela's