Get To Know Point Breeze North

The north end of Point Breeze feels like a working-class neighborhood, but it was once the home of Pittsburgh’s wealthiest families. In the middle of the community is Westinghouse Park — formerly entrepreneur George Westinghouse’s estate. That property, along with the lawn of Henry J. Heinz, was transformed into a green space in 1918. You can still see Heinz’s original carriage house (now the Meade Place apartment building), the stone wall that surrounded the estate, and a decorative iron fence along Penn Avenue.

Spend a day exploring shops, getting creative, and finding tasty eats in Point Breeze North ⬇️

First: Fuel Up

Commonplace Coffee has several locations around the city, but this spot in Rockwell Park — a former industrial site turned eight-building campus — is by far the roomiest. It has plenty of space for remote work or catching up with friends. Look for latte specials, treats like muffins and scones, and local art displays. And keep an eye out for pop-up events in Rockwell Park, like VegFair and seasonal I Made It! Markets.

Next Stop: Grocery Shopping

If you’re passionate about the environment, organic food, and supporting local businesses, grab your reusable tote bag and head to East End Food Co-Op. It’s been around for more than 40 years, and you can find lots of local goods, as well as bulk items like beans, flour, spices, and more. Become a member to support the store and get discounts, or swing by for an event, like cheese tastings, game nights, and craft workshops.

Looking for specialty items? Just a skip away from the Co-Op, you’ll find Pittsburgh’s newest Asian grocery, Enson Market. Aisles upon aisles are stacked with every kind of rice, noodle, sauce, and spice. Freezer sections are packed with ready-to-go eats (I’m a big fan of the japchae mandu). A seafood and meat counter make dinners feel fresh. And if you’re not up for cooking, stop by the hot bar. Don’t forget to treat yourself on the way out with a salty snack, a fresh sweet bun, or something refreshing from the homemade ice cream and juice bar.

Final Fun: Creative Reuse

Want to go on a treasure hunt? Construction Junction is a center for salvaged, reclaimed, and repurposed materials — there’s even a section dedicated to toilets, which, to me, looks like a graveyard for Pittsburgh potties. It’s a great place to find small home project items like tile, light fixtures, or hardware. Construction Junction is also a drop-off recycling site. Find out what materials they accept.

If you prefer crafting over construction, swing around back to the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse. It’s like a garage sale, your grandma’s sewing stash, and the clearance aisle in an old Pat Catan’s, all combined into one. Stop by to see a gallery from the artist in residence or learn a new skill in a workshop on mending, paper making, and more.