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Lawrenceville gained a place for live music, dance parties, and great pizza in 2015 when Spirit opened in an abandoned former Moose Lodge. Since then, the substantial, two-story venue has become a central part of the neighborhood, attracting crowds with big-name acts, local art, outdoor fun, and eclectic events ranging from weekly trivia and Bingo nights to beat-box tournaments.
The far-reaching impact of the space was by design, according to chef and owner Tom Barr.
“We always wanted to be more than just a venue or a restaurant,” Barr tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “A place that serves the arts and the neighborhood equally. A place that parties like no other, but that we wanted to get old with and celebrate and enjoy the best things in life. Culture, food, family, and celebration.”
The Spirit crew celebrates 10 years in operation on Sat., April 12, with Spirit X, an anniversary shindig described in a press release as honoring the “early horseshoe pit days, to the mushroom garden era, from the Vault to the dining tent, from brunch buffets to wedding buffets.”
The two-level party promises complimentary pizza, “local artists and musicians as well as a couple of curated national touring acts,” and free tattoos by Torch and Dagger with designs “sourced from Spirit regulars” through an annual flash contest.
Featured Spirit X acts include Floorplan, a project of “Detroit techno pioneer” Robert Hood and his daughter, Lyric Hood, and Seattle surf rock band La Luz. The lineup continues with Expensive $hit, Detour, Sleeping Witch and Saturn, Blinder, and Ancient History. DJ Gordy G of Title Town and DJ Dini Daddy will also appear.
David “Spike” Beck, Spirit’s director of programming, tells City Paper that the entertainment lineup “came down to choosing acts that captured the essence of Spirit” that he “had absorbed as a patron for years.”
“Spirit has always been home for unique and experimental art,” says Beck. “It feels like our lineup embodies that and gives the spotlight to innovators like Robert Hood, up-and-coming psych rockers like La Luz, and local performers that continue to put Pittsburgh on the map as a nurturing ground for incredible art.”
But the question on every frequent Spirit patron’s lips concerns the popular back patio area, which has been off-limits since renovations began. When asked when it would be reopened, Barr replies, “It’ll be a mid-summer miracle, but that’s the goal and we’re sticking to it!”
A revamped patio isn’t the only thing coming to Spirit. Barr says guests can expect “magical new outdoor spaces” with a rooftop bar and garden (Spirit launched a Rooftop Project in 2019), a patio dedicated to the upstairs Hall area, and “a spanking new full-service dining room with an expanded menu.” He adds on the latter with promises of “chicken parm[esan] … lots of chicken parm.”
“We are essentially opening a new restaurant and separating the ‘venue’ from the ‘restaurant,'” Barr continues. “The goal is to provide consistency and clear lanes (and entrances) for those that are just coming to see a show with a cover charge or for those just coming to sit down and eat, pick up food, or meet friends on the roof for a drink.”
Spirit has even extended its reach beyond its 51st Street location. Last year, local media outlets reported that Barr and Spirit co-owner Leigh Yock partnered with other service industry professionals to restore and reopen Nied’s Hotel, a beloved Lawrenceville dive closed in 2019 after nearly eight decades in business.
Even as Spirit undergoes major changes, its mission, Barr says, stays the same. He also expresses satisfaction with the venue’s accomplishments so far.
“In the entertainment realm, The Hall renovations have been crucial in making the space up to snuff and desirable for bigger touring acts,” he says. “We feel we have that dialed in now. In the pizza world, we cultivated our own sourdough recipe, perfected our fresh [mozzarella] and wings, and feel we’ve consistently and sincerely been making some of the best pizza in the city. Our [beverage] program has always been fun but thoughtful, and constantly evolves with time. It has always remained affordable as far as venues go, and we’re proud of that.”
Spirit X 10th Anniversary Party. 8 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $30 in advance, $40 at the door. 21 and over. spiritpgh.com
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2025.
