The Pitt
Place to be together.
We popped in to visit with the owners of The Pitt the Friday of Pitt State commencement weekend.
They were getting ready to host a big graduation party. Red and gold balloons were going up. Guests were arriving. Food and drinks were being prepped. It was the start of what is always a crazy busy weekend.
“Wish us luck,” said manager/bartender Maggie Amick.
They don’t need luck, but we get it. It’s gonna be three days of chaos and fun and crowds and fun and stress and fun. And that’s exactly how they like it.
“We’ve always wanted this place to be where people go to celebrate and be together and just have a good time,” said co-owner Blaise Main.
Blaise owns The Pitt along with his mom Sandra and step-dad Kyle. It kinda happened by accident.
It was 2018. They were in what was then Brickyard for lunch and saw a sign that indicated the joint was closing.
Because they had talked about one day opening a bar together, Blaise and Kyle were thinking the same thing.
“We went from sitting down for lunch to talking to the owners about buying the place,” Blaise said. “That all happened in about 10 days.”
The Pitt, located at 516 N. Broadway, has something for everyone. Great food. Burgers, wings, wraps. Great drinks. Cocktails. Beer. Great live music, historic architecture. Great location downtown.
“From the start, we just wanted to provide a space where people can have a great experience,” Blaise said. “Whether you want to come in for a beer, listen to some music, grab a bite to eat … we just want you to enjoy yourself.”
Maggie has been with them since opening, and she said she enjoys the interaction with a wide variety of people.
“My favorite thing about bartending and being in this business is the people,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoy meeting new customers for the first time, whether they’re new to the bar, Pittsburg or just passing through. Sometimes I’ve poured them drinks in celebration and sometimes through hardships. Either way I’ve built relationships with some pretty extraordinary humans.”
Blaise said one of his favorite parts of this journey is seeing The Pitt become a destination for people in town and out of town.
“One of my favorite stories is about this couple from Kansas City,” he said. “They stop in regularly for their favorite scotch. Then they go eat some fried chicken at Barto’s. They come back here for another drink, grab a hotel room for the night, then head back home. They come down to Pitt just to visit us, grab some chicken, and have a nice time.
“That’s so awesome.”
Check out The Pitt on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thepittbar
