RILEY’S POUR HOUSE | PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Riley’s Pour House, a beloved Irish pub in Carnegie, was destroyed in a fire on Thursday, Nov. 14. No injuries were reported after the 911 call came in as a kitchen fire. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the inferno that also damaged nearby buildings.

The owners of the East Main Street bar took to Facebook to thank the community and warn would-be donors about fake fundraising pages that have been popping up since the blaze occurred around 1:15 p.m.

“Please be cautious and know that any official updates about fundraising efforts will be shared directly on this page,” the post stated. “We kindly ask that you avoid donating to the fraudulent pages, as they are attempting to exploit our tragedy for personal gain. Thank you for your support and vigilance.”

But, the charlatans can’t overshadow the kindness on display throughout the city.

Shortly after news of the fire broke, social media was flooded with an outpouring of well-wishes for the landmark watering hole that opened in 1979 as the Pour House of Carnegie. It’s changed ownership several times over the years and is currently run by Joseph Riley, Dan Phillips and Eric Kraemer.

In traditional Irish pub fashion, it was more than a business, it was a community hub.

Online, former employees and longtime customers shared memories. Pittsburgh expats lamented the loss from afar. The family of original co-owner Dennis Murphy expressed their collective grief:

“My uncle Dennis Murphy founded this Irish institution in Carnegie and would be horrified that all the Irish history had been destroyed today. We pray for the Riley Family and our hearts go out to everyone involved in this historic facility.”

As of press time, the borough’s Holiday Market is still happening from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17 along East Main Street between Broadway and Mary streets.

Fat Cat Mac Attack food truck plans to be there to dish out gourmet mac-and-cheese and pledges to give all cash tips to Riley’s employees, who are now jobless for the holidays. On Saturday, the vehicle will be doing the same thing at Altered Genius Trailside in Imperial starting at 1:30 p.m.

It’s the second time in recent years that East Main Street has experienced a fire that gutted a restaurant. In March 2018, a kitchen accident sparked flames that destroyed the popular PaPa J’s Ristorante and upper floors that housed apartments — across the street from Riley’s. A tenant died. PaPa J’s has since relocated to the Strip District, as has Apis Mead & Winery, which opened a decade ago in a storefront neighboring the Italian eatery. The business now operates out of the former Holy Souls Church on nearby Mary Street.

As a reporter for the Bridgeville Area News in the early aughts, I occasionally visited the Pour House to unwind after work.

A few months ago, I was back in the borough and walked by the pub after interviewing Apis owner Dave Cerminara. I was late for another meeting and had errands to run, but I desperately wanted to shirk my responsibilities, belly up to the bar and share the gift of gab with fellow patrons over multiple pints of Guinness.

I hope I get another chance some day.