Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on March 30, 2026.
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We love the architecture and history of iconic churches, and, like many cities, Pittsburgh has seen its share of churches close over the years.
But rather than being demolished, many of these beautiful spaces have been de-sanctified, purchased by private investors, and given new life as a business with a unique setting!
In this one, we wanted to share a few of our favorite churches-turned-businesses in the Pittsburgh metro!
Note: While many may find it sad that churches are no longer being used for their original intent as a house of worship, we fully support the beautiful buildings being given a new life rather than being demolished.
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The Church Arcade
Love pinball and classic arcade games with the bonus of being in a converted church? The appropriately named Church Arcade in Duquesne, PA, located just a few miles east of Kennywood, is for you!
This former house of worship now features dozens of new and old pinball machines, plus an array of vintage arcade games, inside the sanctuary. With pinball and Ms. Pac-Man at the altar, tabletop games in the confessional spaces, game logos adorning the walls like stained glass, and so much more, there really is a lot to love about this one.
Be sure to watch for daily prices, as Saturday and Sunday often come in a bit higher than Friday nights, and check their monthly schedule, as they sometimes are booked for private events.
The Church Arcade is located at 32 S 1st Street in Duquesene, PA.
Church Brew Works
Fancy a beer in a former holy space? Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood has been a popular regional brewery since 1996- making it one of the city’s oldest craft breweries still operating today.
The brewery itself leans into its church history, not just in its name, but in the layout. Brewing equipment can be found at the altar, stained glass adorns the windows, and the tables make you feel like you are almost sitting inside the former pews.
For a brew and a full food menu with an interesting ambiance, well, this one sure does offer that!
Church Brew Works is located at 3525 Liberty Avenue in Lawrenceville.
Union Project
Would you rather create something in a former house of worship? Union Project in Highland Park is for you! This facility brands itself as a community ceramics center with ceramics classes, workspaces for artists, and more- all within a beautiful facility.
If you are more interested in shopping for ceramics than making them yourself, be on the lookout for periodic events hosted at the facility where local ceramics artists sell their wares. Their flagship event, The Mother of All Pottery Sales, typically takes place just before Mother’s Day, and is an excellent opportunity to support local artists, see the space, and score some incredible ceramics for mom (or yourself, a friend, or another family member)!
Union Project is located at 801 N Negley Avenue in Highland Park.
Mr. Smalls Theatre
Churches have long been known for their incredible acoustics and live music during services, so it should be no surprise that Pittsburgh is home to a theater in a former church. Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale brings in some of the world’s best musicians for intimate shows (often standing-room-only) with stellar ambiance.
For those who want something a bit different, be sure to check out ticket availability for the limited seats in the choir lofts. These are often available as an add-on ticket (so make sure you have a base entry ticket first- these are extra and do not cover entry), and your seat price is typically given to you as bar and food credit during the night! We’ve taken advantage of this one for many performances when we didn’t want to stand, and love the views and bar tab perks.
The theater also has a small loft space known as the funhouse for more intimate shows by smaller acts, comedians, and more, offering plenty to love about this former church in Millvale.
Mr. Smalls Theater is located at 400 Lincoln Avenue in Millvale.
The Priory Hotel
Finally, if you’re looking for an interesting place to stay overnight, The Priory Hotel in the North Side is another converted space to consider.
This one is a bit more than just a church, as the facility was once home to the Benedictine Order. The worship space is now their on-site event venue, and the attached facilities that formerly housed the monks are now hotel rooms. The former Archive is now home to The Monks’ Bar, thought to be the smallest bar in Pennsylvania, too!
The on-site church is now used for events like weddings, the North Side Sandwich Sampler, and more- so if you want to explore the sanctuary, be sure to watch out for an event, both public and private!
The Priory Hotel is located at 614 Pressley Street in the North Side.
Although these are just a few of the many converted churches in Pittsburgh, we really love that these buildings are getting a new lease on life!
Do you have a favorite church-turned-business in southwest PA? Comment below to share!
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