REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM IS BREAKING DOWN THE SITUATION IN BROOKLINE. A LOT OF MEMORIES OF SLICK’S BAR AND A LOT OF SADNESS BECAUSE IT’S CLOSING. THE OWNER TELLS US WHY. FOR NEARLY 19 YEARS, THE OWNERS OF SLICK’S BAR SAY IT IS KNOWN AS A PLACE WHERE GOOD FRIENDS MEET. WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN HERE, THEY LOOK AROUND AND THEY JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN IT’S VERY WELCOMING. MARY ROSE OWNS THE BAR WITH HER HUSBAND, JOHN. SHE SAYS IT’S KNOWN AS A WARM GATHERING PLACE, A SPORTS BAR. A LOT OF OUR CUSTOMERS, IT’S OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE REALLY DON’T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO. YOU KNOW, THEY’RE THEY LIVE ALONE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THEY EVEN HAVE SIX POOL TEAMS WHO COMPETE FOR TROPHIES, LINE THE WALL OF SNACKS. BUT ALL OF THAT WILL BE LOST WHEN IT CLOSES AT THE END OF THE MONTH. LEWIS SAYS THEY HAVE TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING IS NOT RENEWING THEIR LEASE. I JUST KNOW THAT THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING WANTS TO EXPAND HIS BUSINESS OVER INTO THIS SIDE, AND WHICH HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DO SO. SLICK’S BAR SITS IN THE BUILDING THAT IS OWNED BY THE OWNER OF FIORE’S PIZZA. IT’S ONE OF PITTSBURGH’S ICONIC PIZZA PARLORS, AND FURY’S AND SLICK’S ARE ADJACENT. FURY’S OWNER, FIORENTINO MOSCATIELLO, SAYS A MANDATE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS FORCING THE PIZZA SHOP TO EXPAND INTO THE BAR SPACE. THEY MUST ADD RESTROOMS FOR MEN AND WOMEN AND MAKE THE BUSINESS HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE UPGRADE A LITTLE BIT. YOU DON’T HAVE THE SPACE TO UPGRADE. WE DON’T HAVE THE SPACE HERE FOR DOING THAT. SO THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO EXPAND INTO THE BAR? YES. SLICK’S WILL CLOSE AT THE END OF THE MONTH. SHOCKING. DEVASTATING. VERY SAD, VERY SAD. I’M VERY EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW. THE OWNERS OF SLICK’S BAR SAY WHEN THEY CLOSE DOWN, IT WILL BE FOR GOOD AND THEY WILL NOT PLAN TO RELOCATE. COVERING ALL
Pittsburgh bar to close due to neighboring businesses forced expansion by health department
Updated: 6:09 PM EST Feb 9, 2026
A longtime bar in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood said it will close its doors for good at the end of February, citing the expansion of its neighbor, Fiori’s Pizza. John and Mary Rose Louis have owned Slick’s Bar for nearly 19 years. They spoke to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Monday, saying that it has been very emotional to think about the upcoming closure. “Shocking, devastating, very sad, very sad, and I’m very emotional right now,” Mary told Action News 4 reporter Sheldon Ingram.Mary calls Slick’s a warm gathering place where good friends meet. She said, although that’s the case, Fiorentino Moscatiello, who owns Fiori’s and the building Slick’s currently occupies, said he is expanding the space following orders from the Allegheny County Health Department. Moscatiello said he is expanding into the bar space to add restrooms for men and women, and also make the business handicapped accessible. “The health department, we have to upgrade a little bit,” Moscatiello said. The owners of Slick’s Bar said once they close, they will not relocate.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
A longtime bar in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood said it will close its doors for good at the end of February, citing the expansion of its neighbor, Fiori’s Pizza.
John and Mary Rose Louis have owned Slick’s Bar for nearly 19 years. They spoke to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Monday, saying that it has been very emotional to think about the upcoming closure.
“Shocking, devastating, very sad, very sad, and I’m very emotional right now,” Mary told Action News 4 reporter Sheldon Ingram.
Mary calls Slick’s a warm gathering place where good friends meet.
She said, although that’s the case, Fiorentino Moscatiello, who owns Fiori’s and the building Slick’s currently occupies, said he is expanding the space following orders from the Allegheny County Health Department.
Moscatiello said he is expanding into the bar space to add restrooms for men and women, and also make the business handicapped accessible.
“The health department, we have to upgrade a little bit,” Moscatiello said.
The owners of Slick’s Bar said once they close, they will not relocate.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.