PHOTO COURTESY OF ISALY’S

Pittsburghers are passionate about Isaly’s.

Locals Jim and Leslee Conroy took that love to the next level by purchasing the iconic brand in 2015. Less than a week ago, they leased a space in the Strip District where they plan to open an Isaly’s storefront.

By this time next year, yinz guys could be scarfin’ dahn Skyscraper cones and chipped ham sammiches at 2111 Penn Ave!

PHOTO COURTESY OF ISALY’S

The 120-year-old company once had numerous delis dotting southwestern Pennsylvania. There are a couple of independently owned Isaly businesses in the area, including one in West View, but this will be the first new Isaly’s to open in a generation.

To make the 3,500-square-foot shop as authentic as possible, the Conroys — owners of O’Hara-based Conroy Foods Inc. — are referencing an original Isaly’s deli operations manual. It will be modernized to an extent, of course, but aside from some gadgets and gizmos, it’ll be an old-school operation.

But the couple’s ties to Isaly’s run deeper than logistics. The business is in their blood.

“They’re both from Pittsburgh and grew up going to Isaly’s,” says their daughter, Hannah Conroy, who serves as marketing director for Conroy Foods. “My dad was close friends with the previous owner. It holds a special place in their hearts.”

I love this trend of Pittsburghers resurrecting their favorite defunct brands — like the Kasten family did when Oakland staple Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream closed last year.

When the new Isaly’s opens in the Strip, I know exactly what I’m going to wear!