Hemingway’s Café, a beloved Oakland bar and student hangout for more than four decades, has poured its last drink — and its building is now part of the University of Pittsburgh’s expanding real estate footprint in the neighborhood, according to county records and local news reports.
The Forbes Avenue staple, which opened in 1983, closed in May 2026 after owner John Elavsky announced earlier this year that rising costs and post‑pandemic uncertainty made it harder to keep the doors open. Days later, the university purchased the shuttered Hemingway’s property for about $1.36 million, public records show.
The deal is one small piece of a much larger land play. A recent USA TODAY Network report on Pitt’s record enrollment detailed how the university is reshaping Oakland with new dorms at Fifth and Ruskin, plans for an additional 1,400 beds by 2031 and increased use of privately developed “affiliate” housing near campus. Separately reported sales show Pitt has spent more than $25 million in recent years on key Oakland parcels, including commercial buildings and development sites on and around Atwood Street.
More: Allegheny General’s $19M heart lab overhaul boosts patient care
More: Pitt’s record growth reshapes Oakland with new dorms, more students
More: Pittsburgh’s biggest new science hall set to reshape Oakland
Pitt’s property tax status
Much of Pitt’s growing real estate portfolio is tax-exempt, meaning the university does not pay standard property taxes on most of its holdings. A city report estimated that if fully taxed, Pitt’s real estate in Pittsburgh would generate more than $20 million annually. Instead, the university has agreed to contribute $5 million over five years to support parks, business corridors and public safety initiatives.
The closure of Hemingway’s reflects a broader shift in Oakland, with fewer independently owned businesses and increased institutional control amid ongoing debates about funding the future of the neighborhood.
This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Beloved Oakland bar gives way to Pitt’s growing footprint