Business & Tech

News Nearby: Sidelines Beer House Opens in Sewickley

A ribbon cutting celebrating Sewickley's newest sports bar is scheduled for noon on Friday.

It’s no coincidence the sign at the front door invites patrons to "seat yourself wherever you’d like." 

Bob Miller wants “Sidelines Beer House” in Sewickley to feel inviting to customers. 

“Sewickley needs a neighborhood bar and that’s what we are,” said Miller of Pittsburgh, owner of the new business.

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Sidelines held a soft opening Tuesday, but the business will celebrate a grand opening on Friday with a ribbon cutting at noon.

With hours of operation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, the casual and affordably-priced sports bar allows patrons to grab a bite to eat at just about any time of the day. The kitchen closes at 1 a.m.

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Sidelines’ executive chef Brad Murray, who runs the back of the house, said the menu offerings — wings, burgers, wraps, salads and sandwiches — are all made in house, from scratch using only fresh, seasonal ingredients.

"Most of our food is beer oriented," he said.

The signature menu is described as “bar food with a flair.”

“These are menu items you would expect to see, but done in a way you wouldn’t expect,” Miller explained.

Murray, who has been cooking for about 13 years, said menu items are also paired up with beers.

The full-service sports bar carries a selection of 200 beers and 24 drafts, in addition to a separate dining area.

Sidelines also features a Beer Club where members get a list of 50 beers from all over the world. Patrons who drink all 50 are awarded a T-shirt that shows you as an official member. Completing a list of 100 beers will earn you a personalized beer stein to keep at the bar and fill at a discounted price.

Miller has operated Sidelines Bar and Grill in Millvale for more than eight years.

“We’ve done very well down there,” he said of Millvale.

When Miller began looking for a new location to expand, he said Specialty Group, which helps people who own bars and restaurants, suggested several places to consider that included .

He did his homework, talking to people he knew and getting a feel for the town and what people might be looking for in the area.

Miller immediately fell in love with 518-520 Locust Place, a location that was previously occupied for more than a decade by  .

“You know when you walk into a place and you say 'this is it?' I walked in and I said, ‘this is the Sidelines,’ ” he said. "So that's how it happened."

Inside, you won't find chandeliers, table cloths or even much furniture besides the typical seating. The no-frills sports bar does have 12 flat-screen televisions, seven located in the dining room, offering a great view from any vantage point.

“There’s not a bad seat in the house,” Miller said.

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Today

Doors open at 5 p.m. Thursday as part of the soft opening, offering 10 percent off food purchases to help staff get used to their new digs.

Tomorrow

Starting Friday, Sidelines will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with the kitchen open until 1 a.m. 

Going forward

Tuesdays: Beer Club nights, when members can receive $1 off beers or six packs to go that are on the beer list. A smartphone application is under development that would provide a current beer inventory and help patrons track their Beer Club progress.

Wednesdays: 25-cent wings

Thursdays: All-you-can-eat crab legs night

Fridays: $1 shots night from 9-11 p.m.

Saturdays: Sierra Nevada and martini night


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