Union Standard, Derek Stevens’ restaurant classic and contemporary American food will open in the iconic Union Trust Building in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh in fall 2016
Pittsburgh, PA, USA (March 4, 2016) – Derek Stevens – acclaimed Pittsburgh Chef – has today announced plans to open his restaurant, Union Standard, in the iconic Union Trust Building in downtown Pittsburgh. Located at 501 Grant Street in the heart of Mellon Square, the Union Trust Building is currently undergoing a transformative $100 million dollar restoration by building owner, The Davis Companies (TDC). When complete, the restoration and improvements will renew and enhance its breathtaking beauty.
Union Standard marks Chef Stevens’ first venture into the restaurant business as an owner, and he feels the timing is right: “I have wanted to open my own place for some time, but in order for me to make the leap, all the pieces had to fit. I couldn’t imagine a better location. It’s the right size and it’s the right time. I’m just really excited to bring this vision to life and put my own creative spin on things.”
TDC is restoring the Union Trust Building to offer a dynamic, lively hub featuring 460,000-square-feet of contemporary retail, Class-A office, tech-startup and amenity space, including a 190-space, below-grade parking garage, bicycle storage, a 5,000-square-foot fitness facility, two conference facilities seating 80 and 400 respectively and vibrant public areas. Union Standard will occupy the ground floor and mezzanine levels overlooking Mellon Square Park, on the corner of William Penn Place and Oliver Avenue.
With over 7,300 square feet and approximately 170 seats, Union Standard offers a large bar area on the ground floor featuring a raw bar, with additional dining space and private dining rooms on the mezzanine level with a partially open kitchen featuring a wood fired grill and rotisserie. Union Standard will serve lunch and dinner during the week, with the addition of brunch on the weekends.
Working with Moss Architects to bring the vision to life, Union Standard will be a vibrant and inviting space, designed to combine the comfort of a home-cooked meal with the elegance of a special occasion. Guests will walk into a beautiful space and be able to choose between a casual meal at the bar, or a more elegant experience in the dining room.
Chef Stevens’ partners in the venture include Chuck Hammel (Pitt Ohio), Robert Glimcher (Glimcher Group Inc.) and Christine Grady.
Chuck Hammel commented: “This is a great opportunity for me to support local talent in building a business. I have long enjoyed Derek’s food and I’m looking forward to this new venture.”
Robert Glimcher added: “When the opportunity came up to partner with Derek Stevens in this location, it was hard to say no. This is really an exciting project and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”
TDC CEO and Pittsburgh native Jonathan Davis explained:
“Bringing Chef Derek Stevens to our project helps to underscore our vision for UTB, which is to create a dynamic environment that values quality, originality, and community. His commitment reinforces the renaissance that is occurring in and around UTB. We are thrilled to be able to offer Derek’s unique style of cuisine to our tenants and to Downtown Pittsburgh generally. We think Union Standard, and the other restaurants we plan for the Union Trust Building, distinguish us from the traditional Pittsburgh office building.”
Herky Pollock, Executive Vice President and Northeast Director Retailer Services, CBRE, represented both the Landlord and the Tenant in this transaction.
Notes to Editors:
About the Partners:
Chef Stevens:
Chef Stevens has an unparalleled track record and brings over 23 years of experience in Pittsburgh’s finest restaurants. Chef Stevens received his degree in Culinary Arts at the renowned Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York in 1994, and since then his career has seen him spend time at the finest restaurants in Pittsburgh including the Duquesne Club and Hyeholde, to Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant in St. Helena CA, and Lark Creek in San Mateo CA.
Returning to Pittsburgh to be near family, Chef Stevens joined the Big Burrito Group, where he is now in the coveted role of Executive Chef at ELEVEN Contemporary Kitchen, the group’s largest and most highly acclaimed restaurant. He has also been responsible for developing new techniques, procedures, and employee and manager development with a number of restaurants on a consultative level.
Christine Grady
Christine has over 15 years’ experience as a marketing and communications professional in the private sector in London as Head of Corporate Communications for Agilisys, one of the UK’s leading IT Services organizations. Prior to that she worked for Monitor Company, a Boston based Strategy Consulting firm.
In 2011 indulging her entrepreneurial spirit and love of food, Christine left London and moved to the US to open a specialty food market, butcher and café focusing on sustainably sourced, natural and organic foods. Christine moved to Pittsburgh in late 2012 and has been working as a consultant for a non-profit organization focusing on providing access to healthy food for children in under-served communities.
About The Davis Companies
Committed to excellence in both investment performance and operations, The Davis Companies is an integrated real estate investment, development and management firm headquartered in Boston that has invested nearly $4 billion in gross asset value through real estate equity, debt, and fixed-income securities. A unique combination of capital markets, development and management expertise allows The Davis Companies to nimbly tackle complex and contrarian opportunities. Directly, and with its valued partners, The Davis Companies currently owns a real estate portfolio of approximately 12 million square feet across the Eastern United States.
The Union Trust Building
The Davis Companies (TDC) is investing approximately $100 million in the Union Trust Building to update and restore this iconic architectural landmark – located at 501 Grant Street in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Mellon Square. When completed, the fully renovated property will offer more than 500,000-square-feet of Class-A retail, office, tech-startup and amenity space, offering tenants a dynamic, modern work environment in the heart of Pittsburgh’s newly reinvigorated downtown area.
TDC has repositioned nearly 40,000-square-feet of ground-level retail space to establish an indoor and outdoor environment, lined with restaurants, cafes and coffee shops for tenant and public use. TDC is also adding a 190 space underground parking garage with onsite bicycle storage, as well as a 5,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center. The building’s 80-seat conference facility and 400-seat auditorium are both being completely renovated and brought to 21st century standards. The building is directly adjacent to the Mellon Bank Center light rail public transit stop and numerous bus lines, and is easily accessible by public transportation. Centrally located in Mellon Square, it is also surrounded by boutiques, eateries, residential properties, hotels and parks.
Constructed in 1917 by the industrialist Henry Clay Frick, The Union Trust Building’s Flemish-Gothic design makes it one of the most prominent pieces of the city’s architectural heritage. TDC is working with Pittsburgh-based construction manager Mascaro to assure that the building’s unique features are preserved.
For Union Standard related inquiries, please contact: Christine Grady: 412-980-2705
For The Davis Companies / The Union Trust Building related inquiries, please contact: Lauren Michaels: 617-933-5014; lmichaels@solomonmccown.com
