PHOTOS BY PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

With their birdseye view of Downtown atop Grandview Avenue, Dee and Rich Cefola spent two decades watching the city where they met, fell in love and raised their families. 

It’s arguably one of the best views in the city, and Rich recalls a friend once commenting that they could get used to seeing that panorama every day. 

“I told them, ‘You can get used to it, but you can never get tired of it’,” he says with a laugh. 

After all, adds Dee, this one is special. 

“You know Mount Washington,” she says. “You can go to tons of apartments that will all have spectacular views, But this one feels like you’re standing on top of the city.” 

That city is what brought the Cefolas together many years ago in what can only be described as a classic yinzer love story. He worked for U.S. Steel; she worked for her family’s Strip District business, Fortunes Coffee Roastery — which is now known as Allegheny Coffee & Tea Exchange.

A chance meeting at the popular, but now-demolished Froggy’s Bar on Market Street, Downtown, brought the two together, and they eventually built a life in Upper St. Clair where they chased their dreams and blended their families. Dee’s father founded his coffee business in 1950, and the couple took over in 1982. Eventually, they sold the business to new owners who changed the company’s name but kept the brand’s soul. 

“We are so happy that they are doing well. Go take a look at their roaster, though. I take pride in it,” says Dee. “That was my roaster; it still says Fortunes on it.” 

Once Dee’s two sons and Rich’s son and daughter were grown, the couple decided to downsize and relocate to a city condo — a dream they both shared. Finding their home took a bit of luck, though. 

The couple first visited 1700 Grandview Ave. to look at a different unit, which did not meet their needs.

“It’s always good to get to know the maintenance worker or whoever is in charge of the building, though,” says Dee. 

They happened to strike up a chat with the right people before leaving the building, and learned another, larger, unit would become available soon. The couple says knew it was their next home in an instant. 

“We went and looked at it, and just said, ‘Sure, we will buy it,’” Dee says. 

While completing renovations before moving in, the Cefolas ended up spending their first night at their new home while 2004’s Hurricane Ivan wreaked havoc on the area. They had no furniture, and the terrible weather meant the couple were stuck in the condo for the night. 

“We slept on the floor, got up in the morning to look out the windows, and there were boats on top of the fountain,” recalls Rich. 

“We’ve had the best of the view and the worst of the view,” adds Dee. 

With grandkids and even great-grandkids now, the octogenarians have since opted for milder temperatures in Lecanto, Florida; they put Unit 1102 on the market with mixed emotions and nostalgia. 

Now listed by Realtors Heather Kaczorowski and Kaylea Greenberg of Piatt Sotheby’s for $875,000, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse corner unit features just over 1,400 square feet of spacious, one-level living. 

Greenberg says their team is excited to represent the unique unit for many reasons.

“Between its location on Mount Washington, the low HOA fees, two deeded indoor parking spots, and the views…The pictures just don’t do it justice, you have to see it for yourself,” she says. 

Greenberg adds that the home is turnkey ready, and credits the Cefolas for making smart, quality upgrades over the years. “There are no recent updates, but the unit is timeless,” she says. 

 The owners based many design decisions on that priceless view. When they renovated the kitchen, they relocated the sink so nightly cleanup faced the stunning skyline rather than a wall. The couple also hired a custom cabinet maker from New York City to craft a layout that has functioned well in the available space. 

The kitchen’s solid wood cabinets are topped with stone counters, and a breakfast bar offers a perfect perch from which to watch the sun rise over the city. High-end appliances, including a paneled fridge, fit well into the redesigned kitchen. Automatic roller screens on the sky-high deck make it easy to enjoy al-fresco dinners, while the condo’s walls of windows make a huge impression the second guests step through the front door. 

A new in-unit washer and dryer, as well as two deeded parking spaces, mean this unit has all of the conveniences of a standalone home without any of the additional maintenance. The owners added storage above one of the parking spaces, and say the next owner could do the same with the second space. 

Although they’ll miss their neighbors, the couple already has connected with other yinzer retirees in Florida — though there’s a wait to join some of the larger Pittsburgh-based clubs. Already, Rich has attended Penn Hill High School reunions at The Villages, z nearby sprawling 55+ community in Central Florida that straddles two counties. 

When asked what they will miss most about their former condo, both of the Cefolas say “the skyline” in unison as more memories bubble to the surface about the life they built here. They reminisce about weddings they witnessed about the Gateway Clipper fleet, blizzards and flooding, fireworks and stadium flyovers that felt nearly eye-level, and the delay between real-time cheers along the North Shore and the television broadcasts; they always knew if the Steelers got another first down before anyone watching at home. 

“You can get used to it, but you can never get tired of it,” repeats Rich. “So for 20 years, especially at night when the city lights up, we still looked at it and said, ‘Wow.’”

About: Mount Washington
Population: 8,592
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: Few places in Pittsburgh are as centrally located as Mount Washington. A quick trip down the hill provides access to all of the city’s major arteries, and both inclines run directly from Grandview Avenue to parts of Station Square (the Duquesne Incline descends farther up the Mon River toward the Point at 1197 W. Carson St.). Several bus routes through the region and a walkable business district with a grocery store mean residents of Mount Washington do not necessarily need a car.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: Mount Washington has a vibrant, walkable business district with both sit-down and quick-service restaurants. Many young professionals call the neighborhood home due to the easy commute and vibrant nightlife, but there are also many families with children in the community. It is ranked as one of the top 10 Pittsburgh neighborhoods to buy a home in, with a strong camaraderie among residents and plentiful green space for recreation.