9 Retro Places In Pittsburgh That Will Take You Back In Time
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
Remember life before the internet and smartphones? Playing outside until the sun went down and only going inside when our parents called us? Staying up late reading with a flashlight under the covers? Roller skating on Friday evenings and throwing down a blanket in front of the big screen at the drive-in on warm summer evenings? Get ready for a blast from the past when you visit the 9 best retro places in Pittsburgh.
How looooow can you go? Were you one of the brave souls who lined up in the middle of the roller skating rink determined to be crowned the next limbo queen or king? Relive those Friday nights and weekend afternoons at the roller rink with a visit to Neville Roller Dome. Glide around on the rink, as the disco ball lights up the floor, to your favorite songs during one of the many skating sessions held throughout the week, such as the Family Skate Session, the Adult Skate Session, and the Open Skate Session. Click here for more information.
Pack your trunk with plenty of blankets, a lawn chair or two, and get ready for an old-fashioned double feature at Dependable-Drive In (open all year around). Bring your own snacks or follow the age old tradition of running back and forth to the snack bar to stock up on such delicious goodies as popcorn, pizza, hot dogs, nachos, funnel cake, fries, ice cream, and candy. Arrive early for the perfect spot in front of the screen. Join the kids for a game of Frisbee or kick a ball around before the sun goes down. Click here for more information.
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Editor's Note: Forward Lanes is permanently closed.
Nothing quite rivals the sound of a bowling ball hitting the pins for a clean strike. Spend an afternoon at Forward Lanes, one of Pittsburgh's many bowling alleys, which boasts a retro feel with such modern amenities as updated scoring systems and seats. Of course, a trip to the snack bar, when you're waiting for your turn to come around again, will add just the right touch to your visit. Forward Lanes features a limited food and drink menu and vending machines. Click here for more information.
Nothing quite rivals the sound of a bowling ball hitting the pins for a clean strike. Spend an afternoon at Forward Lanes, one of Pittsburgh's many bowling alleys, which boasts a retro feel with such modern amenities as updated scoring systems and seats. Of course, a trip to the snack bar, when you're waiting for your turn to come around again, will add just the right touch to your visit. Forward Lanes features a limited food and drink menu and vending machines. Click here for more information.
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Editor's Note: Games 'N At is permanently closed.
Stuff your pockets with quarters - for old time's sake - when you visit Games 'N At, a retro arcade complete with comfy couches, strategically placed booths, and plenty of your favorite arcade games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. After you've had your fill of arcade games - if that's possible - try one of the pinball machines, shoot some hoops, try your hand at air hockey, or play your favorite X Box games. And, unlike days gone by, you don't need quarters to play. Games 'N At offers individual passes, for between one and four hours, for one flat price. Click here for more information.
Stuff your pockets with quarters - for old time's sake - when you visit Games 'N At, a retro arcade complete with comfy couches, strategically placed booths, and plenty of your favorite arcade games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. After you've had your fill of arcade games - if that's possible - try one of the pinball machines, shoot some hoops, try your hand at air hockey, or play your favorite X Box games. And, unlike days gone by, you don't need quarters to play. Games 'N At offers individual passes, for between one and four hours, for one flat price. Click here for more information.
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Kickback Pinball Cafe offers a retro experience with a modern touch. Buy a handful of tokens and take on the pinball machines as you wait for your - and this is the modern part - sandwich or salad. Guests can order from an impressive menu that includes grilled cheese, a caprese grilled sandwich, a tuna melt, or the tuna salad. Kickback Pinball Care is open daily. Click here for more information.
Nothing says blast from the past like an old-fashioned diner with a black and white checkered floor, high back booths, and a long sandwich counter with stools that twirl around. Kelly O's Diner provides the perfect backdrop for a retro experience. The old-fashioned diner, with locations in the Strip District and in North Hills, features a menu of such favorites as Mom's hot meatloaf sandwich, BLTs, and grilled cheese. Kelly O's welcomes guests for breakfast and lunch. Click here for more information.
Remember the rush you felt when you walked into a candy shop and the smell of all of that sugar - mixed with chocolate and other goodies - just hit your senses? Live that old cliche and be like a kid in a candy store when you visit Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop. Give yourself plenty of time to wander through the shop that features such old favorites as airheads, satellites, and nerds. Check out what fellow candy-holics in other countries, such as Japan and England, eat and try some of those treats yourself. Your biggest challenge just may be deciding which pop - from more than 300 flavors - to choose. Click here for more information.
Step back nearly a century at Klavon's Authentic 1920's Ice Cream Parlor, a picturesque ice cream shop with a counter and stools, tables, and checkered floors. Browse the impressive menu that features such favorites as ice cream sundaes, ice cream splits, ice cream floats, and ice cream sodas. You may, however, want to save the ice cream treat until after you've tried one of the items from the hot menu, which boasts such items as paninis, pepperoni rolls, or soup. Click here for more information.
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Long summer days mean one thing in Pittsburgh - a trip to Idlewild Park & SoakZone for a day of swimming, picnicking, playing games, and riding. A stroll through Story Book Forest will take you back to your own childhood as you wander through time's most famous fairy tales. Stop by Raccoon Lagoon with the kids or to just marvel at how small the trolley, the kiddie turtles, and the tiny Ferris Wheel now look. And, of course, no trip to Idlewild is complete without a spin on the Ferris Wheel, the roller coaster, and the whip. Idlewild opens again for the season on May 20, 2017. Click here for more information.
Who’s up for a stroll down Memory Lane? These nine best retro places in Pittsburgh just might have you longing for the good old days.
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Featured Addresses
2801 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
5844 Forward Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
5109 Neville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15225
549 Moon Clinton Road, Moon, PA 15108
2574 US-30, Ligonier, PA 15658
2400 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
2010 Josephine Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
4326 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
2124 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222