How Spirit is Keeping Nied’s Hotel Alive

After converting a former Moose Lodge into an event space, pizzeria and rooftop bar, the owners are restoring another Lawrenceville landmark.

4 hours ago

Kristy Graver,

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

On Good Friday, Nied’s Hotel sold 250 of its famous fish sandwiches — not bad for a Lawrenceville bar that’s been closed for seven years.

Tom Barr and Leigh Yock, co-owners of Spirit on 51st Street, hosted the fish fry at their Moose Lodge-turned-event space/pizzeria/rooftop bar and sold T-shirts featuring a Nied’s fish and the words, “An imaginary place that actually still exists.”

Proceeds went to the restoration of the Butler Street landmark.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

They purchased Nied’s several years ago and, along with their business partners Brigitte Maraszil and Austin Ansell, are returning it to its former glory by replacing all the utilities, constructing an addition with a full kitchen, ADA-accessible restrooms and rooftop deck, converting the top two floors into a 15-room boutique hotel and preserving the ornate woodwork, pocket doors, fireplaces, radiators, vintage wallpaper and stained glass windows.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The massive project is expected to wrap up by Christmas, which is fitting since there’s still a big sign on the building’s facade featuring a Santa hat-wearing Paul Nied in a sleigh being pulled by a school of fish.

In 1941, Paul’s parents, Ted and Berty Nied, bought the former Irish pub and relocated their Homestead haunt there. His son, Jim, ran the place for decades, but shuttered the beloved lounge on Dec. 30, 2018.

Barr’s family has been friends with the Nieds for generations. He has fond memories of visiting the place with his dad and can’t wait for the day he sees Jim perched on his designated bar stool.

“The bar area and dining room will remain Nied’s forever and to eternity, along with the famous fish sandwich,” he says. “While it might not be recognizable visually in the interior, the culture and friendly faces and community will remain the same.”

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

While crews are working on Nied’s, Spirit is preparing to open its rooftop patio for the season on April 10, which is also the venue’s 11th anniversary.

Inside the building, there will be performances by Adult., Container, Expensive $hit, Donzii, The Dracu-Las, Century III, The Treasury, Lilac // Web and DJs Edgar Um, Erica Scary and PVKVSV. Doors to the show open at 7 p.m. and the music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online.

Customers who just want to grab a drink or a bite outdoors may enter through the pizzeria and either take the elevator or the stairs to Spirit Garden Bar.

Two years in the making, the outdoor space has seating for 50 along with 52 raised garden beds where some ingredients, including pizza toppings and herbs for cocktails, are grown. There will always be a seasonal beverage on the menu with a dollar from each sale going to Grow Pittsburgh.