SmokeShack BBQ in Belle Vernon announces closure, cites increase in food prices
BEFORE AND IS READY TO CELEBRATE WITH RUNS IN BOTH CITIES. DAVID HAYMAN HAS RUN ALL OVER THE WORLD. MOST OF THE TIME IT’S ROOTS NOT FAR FROM HIS HOME HERE IN SHADYSIDE, BUT HE’LL TELL YOU HIS FAVORITE SPOTS ARE A BIT FURTHER AWAY. I’M GOING TO BE MAKING MY 12TH TRIP TO ICELAND. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT? SO ICELAND IS A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER. IT’S GOT LAVA FIELDS. I’VE BEEN A FEW HUNDRED METERS FROM AN ACTIVE VOLCANO. IT’S GOT WATERFALLS, GLACIERS, PUFFINS, BLACK SAND BEACHES. IT’S A PLACE THAT’S JUST MAGICAL, A MAGICAL PLACE WHOSE CAPITAL CITY OF REYKJAVIK HAPPENS TO BE MORE THAN 2800 MILES FROM PITTSBURGH BY AIR. BUT P3R THE MACHINE BEHIND THE PITTSBURGH MARATHON, IS HOPING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BY PARTNERING WITH ICELAND’S CAPITAL CITY AND THEIR ANNUAL MARATHON EVENT. SO TRULY, THERE IS NO ONE BETTER TO SERVE AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THIS NEW RELATIONSHIP. WHEN I SAW THAT PITTSBURGH AND REYKJAVIK WERE TEAMING UP FOR THEIR MARATHONS, I GOT REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE I’VE RUN THE PITTSBURGH HALF MARATHON FOUR TIMES. I’VE RUN THE REYKJAVIK HALF MARATHON THREE TIMES. I THOUGHT, WHO ELSE IN PITTSBURGH HAS THAT EXPERIENCE AND CAN TALK ABOUT THE TWO RACES A SISTER, MARATHONS, P3R SAYS THE TWO EVENTS WILL WORK CLOSELY, COLLABORATING ON DESTINATION DRIVEN STORYTELLING, HIGHLIGHTING RUNNERS TRAVELING BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, AND THAT TRAVEL JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT EASIER THANKS TO A NONSTOP FLIGHT NOW AVAILABLE FROM PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. NOW WE HAVE THE STRAIGHT FLIGHT WITH ICELANDAIR BECAUSE IT’S LIKE A NEW OPPORTUNITY, SO NO ONE SHOULD MISS OUT ON THAT. IT’S IT’S EASY ACCESS. SO OF COURSE, IF FOR NEW ADVENTURES OPENS A LOT OF DOORS FOR EVERYBODY. THIS IS HALF. SHE’S THE RACE DIRECTOR OF THE REYKJAVIK MARATHON. SHE HAS NEVER BEEN TO PITTSBURGH. BUT THAT CHANGES THIS WEEK. WE HAVE SUCH A BIG. ARE TIGHT SCHEDULE, SO I MEANT WHAT I SAID EARLIER. I THINK I’M GONNA BE IN MY RUNNING SHOES WITH THE FRESH, WITH THE FRESH T SHIRT AND A JACKET IN THE FINISH LINE AND GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PLANE AFTER THE RUN. SO YEAH, MY GOAL IS TO DO THE HALF ON, ON SUNDAY AND I’M REALLY EXCITED, SHE SAYS. THE TWO CITIES ARE VERY DIFFERENT, BUT THEY DO SHARE SOME SIMILARITIES. WE HAVE KIND OF THIS LIKE A FLAT, SCENIC SCENARIO WITH LIKE MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANIC ATMOSPHERE, AND YOU HAVE LIKE THE SKYLINE AND ALL THE BRIDGES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO YEAH, THAT IS TOTALLY VERY DIFFERENT. SO IT’S KIND OF LIKE THERE’S A, BUT THERE’S THIS SPORTS CONNECTION AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY ATMOSPHERE IN BOTH CITIES THAT KIND OF CONNECTS AS WELL. AND TAKE IT FROM DAVID, WHO’S EXPERIENCED BOTH RACES FIRSTHAND. WELL, IT’S NO SECRET THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE PITTSBURGH RUNNING COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THAT FEELING FOR HIM WAS REPLICATED HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD. YOU’RE INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY. BOTH RACES START AND END IN THEIR DOWNTOWN, SO IT’S JUST REALLY YOU’RE GETTING AN AUTHENTIC EXPE
SmokeShack BBQ in Belle Vernon announces closure, cites increase in food prices
Updated: 12:43 PM EDT May 2, 2026
SmokeShack BBQ in Westmoreland County announced Friday that it will be closing up shop. VIDEO: Pittsburgh Marathon unveils partnership with Iceland race In a post on Facebook, the establishment said its final day of operation will be Sunday, May 3, 2026. SmokeShack BBQ is located near Val’s Beer Distributor and Car Wash along Rostraver Road. “Dave and I want to thank all the people that came to support our dream, but with the increase of food prices, we just cannot hold on any longer and have made the hard decision to close,” the owners said in a post. “So we hope to get to see ya all this weekend to say thank you for your support and goodbye!” Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
BELLE VERNON, Pa. —
SmokeShack BBQ in Westmoreland County announced Friday that it will be closing up shop.
VIDEO: Pittsburgh Marathon unveils partnership with Iceland race
In a post on Facebook, the establishment said its final day of operation will be Sunday, May 3, 2026. SmokeShack BBQ is located near Val’s Beer Distributor and Car Wash along Rostraver Road.
“Dave and I want to thank all the people that came to support our dream, but with the increase of food prices, we just cannot hold on any longer and have made the hard decision to close,” the owners said in a post. “So we hope to get to see ya all this weekend to say thank you for your support and goodbye!”
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.