PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Early bird Kelly O’Connor is about to pull double-duty as a night owl.

The owner of Kelly O’s Diner, a popular chain of breakfast spots, plans to open O’Zone Bar & Grill in Warrendale in January. The storefront is located in Marshall Village, the same plaza as one of her namesake greasy spoons.

Seana Lois, O’Connor’s daughter and CEO of the family business, says O’Zone will be an upscale sports bar where the scratch-made food generates as much fanfare as the games on TV. The menu will be heavy on appetizers, shareable plates and Pittsburgh staples. On weekends, the space – formerly House of 1000 Beers — will be available to rent for private parties with boozy brunch catered by Kelly O’s.

“We want to put forward something people will be proud and happy to eat,” Lois says. “We want to make sure people are getting what they are paying for.”

The O’Zone project started in May 2024. O’Connor, a service industry worker since she was a student at North Allegheny Senior High School, is always scoping out potential places to expand her dippy egg empire. Her goal is to get her brand of grub into local sports arenas.

“She’s never clocked out,” Lois says with a laugh, adding that O’Connor once gave MC Hammer a ride back to his hotel after a dinner party at celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s house.

She’s obviously “2 Legit 2 Quit” and has built a loyal following because of it. The diner sells bumper stickers that read “Where in the world is Kelly O’s?” Eagle-eyed regulars traveling beyond the ‘burgh have spotted the cryptic decal as far away as China.

In 2001, O’Connor opened the original Kelly O’s in Ross. A decade later, the Strip District location debuted. The third eatery opened in Warrendale in 2021. The business has been featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-In and Dives.” The menu features several dishes endorsed by host (and MC Hammer fan) Guy Fieri, including haluski, a buttery mix of egg noodles, caramelized onions and cabbage, garlic salt, black pepper and bacon. They love Polish comfort food in Flavortown.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Kelly O’s clan will celebrate the diner’s anniversary by hosting Rocktober Fest at the Warrendale site from 4 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 5. There will be live music, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, vendors, demolition derby cars and family-friendly activities. Through Sept. 30, pre-sale VIP tickets – which are $30 and include an all-you-can-eat-buffet, non-alcoholic beverages and a gift bag – and $10 general admission passes can be purchased at all Kelly O’s locations. General admission will be $12 at the door the day of the bash.

This year’s event is also a fundraiser for Lisa Lombardo, a Kelly O’s employee who suffered a brain aneurysm while filling in for a co-worker last February. The money will go toward her medical bills and ongoing care. Lisa’s sister, Laurie Lombardo, is also a Kelly O’s employee.

Patrons who can’t make it to Rocktober Fest can donate via Kelly O’s website and in person. I recommend doing so over a big plate of corned beef hash and home fries with onions and peppers; and if someone tries to sneak a bite, just say, “U Can’t Touch This.”