Students who recently walked along Meyran Avenue may have seen the large white “H2P Cafe” sign hanging above the restaurant formerly known as Winghart’s.
Students can soon enter the restaurant, now Aaron Donald’s Pittsburgh Cafe, according to Aaron Donald.
“No, not open yet,” he said on April 1. “If not this week, then next week for sure.”
Donald said he partly wanted to recreate the old Pittsburgh Cafe, which occupied the same space before it closed in 2012 and Winghart’s opened at the location.
“P-Cafe was a fun place to go when it was open,” Donald said via a direct message on Twitter on Dec. 6. “[It’s] something to bring back to Pitt campus for people to go … It’s going to be a real cool spot to go.”
Donald, the former Pitt defensive tackle who now plays for the St. Louis Rams, announced on Dec. 6 that he and his brother, Archie Donald, would open a restaurant/bar on Pitt’s campus.
Currently, the restaurant appears near completion, with signs displaying its logo and “AD’s Pittsburgh Cafe” on and near the restaurant. Although the inside appears ready for opening,
Donald did not give a set date for the cafe’s opening. However, he said it could open as early as next week. When it does open, Donald said he will announce it.
“There’s not an official date yet,” Donald said. “I’ll let everybody know on my Instagram and Twitter.”
Donald has been on Pitt’s campus for the past couple of weeks to prepare for the restaurant’s opening. On March 31, Pitt’s football program also named him an honorary coach on for the team’s Spring Game on April 18.
When he announced the restaurant via his Twitter account on Dec. 6, Donald said opening the restaurant/bar was “something that me and my brother always talked about doing.”
Donald said that his brother will also help with the opening and operation of the restaurant.
Archie Donald could not be reached on the phone on April 9.
Donald played four seasons at Pitt, totaling 11 sacks and four forced fumbles in his senior season in 2013.
The Rams selected Donald with the 13th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. He finished his rookie season with nine sacks, leading all rookies. His play also earned him a Pro Bowl berth and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
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