🚧 Demo starts at Century III Mall

A Hot Dog With Pierogi on It?!

There’s some new ballpark grub to try when the Pirates kick off their season at home on April 5. That includes the “Renegade Hot Dog” — a foot-long hotdog with pot roast, mini pierogi, caramelized onions, and pickle slices. And if you’re still hungry, LowKey Taco will have roasted corn on the cob, birria beef nachos, and caramel-stuffed churros at Nachorita in section 138; and Chicken on the Hill will serve chicken biscuits with pickles in partnership with Coop de Ville in section 144. [KDKA-TV]

• 🍻 Like the self-serve beer at PPG Paints Arena? PNC Park is getting a Walk Thru Bru express too! Find the full list of new ballpark eats here. [Aramark]

Demo Starts at Century III Mall

Crews officially started demolishing parts of the former Century III Mall in West Mifflin this week, thanks to intervention from an Allegheny County court. [WPXI]

• 🥀 A quick demise: Century III closed its last store in 2020, was condemned in 2023, and its owner, Moonbeam, is now facing criminal charges. [TribLIVE]
• 🚧 Public nuisance? There have been several trespassing incidents, including one a few weeks ago where several people were arrested. [KDKA-TV]
• 🛍️ It's good to reminisce. Writer, publisher, and shopping mall enthusiast Matthew Newton shares his Century III nostalgia and explains exactly what went wrong. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

City Workforce Is Becoming More Diverse

A PublicSource review of city payroll data reveals employees hired since Mayor Ed Gainey took office are more diverse than the city’s workforce overall. City government is still whiter than the city at large, and the best paying bureaus — police, fire, and emergency medical services — were still 86% white in 2023. The police force has shrunk in recent years, but the city is spending more on policing than ever before. [PublicSource]

• 📋 What’s next? Mayor Gainey tells us what’s on his wish list for the second half of his term. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

The New Way to Start a Restaurant in Pittsburgh

In 2023, chef Nik Forsberg was a James Beard semi-finalist for his pop-up concept Fet-Fisk, aka "greasy fish," which prioritizes sustainably sourced seafood, local meats, and veggies from Nik’s own garden. So what does it take to turn a popular pop-up into a thriving brick-and-mortar business? Hear what he grows, how he approaches his menus, and all the plans behind Bloomfield’s newest restaurant.