The Coop Chicken & Waffles opens brick-and-mortar spot in Pittsburgh
The Coop Chicken & Waffles, which operates a local food truck, on Friday opened a brick-and-mortar location in Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Nicki Cardilli and her partner started with a food truck about four years ago. Business steadily increased every year, Cardilli said, prompting them to open their new location at 401 East Ohio St., a former Rita’s Italian Ice in the East Allegheny neighborhood.
“We got so busy, we couldn’t handle it with just the food truck,” Cardilli said.
Everything on the menu — from cheddar cornbread waffles to macaroni and cheese and chicken tenders — is homemade, Cardilli said.
Tracey Richardson, a North Side resident, showed up for The Coop’s opening day. She said she’s excited to have a new restaurant in the area.
“People said it was so good,” she said, adding that friends had recommended the food after visiting the food truck.
Tyrone Currington said he’d also heard positive things about The Coop’s food truck. He was specifically eager to try the restaurant’s sauces, which a friend had recommended.
Cardilli and her partner have spent the last year and a half preparing to open the new location. Cardilli said it took a while to renovate the space and she’s still in the process of training new employees.
It’s a different working environment than being cooped up in a food truck, she added. Having more space puts a new emphasis on communication — and there’s more running around.
“In the food truck, we’re used to making everything in an eight-by-ten space,” she said.
Trish Kowaluk, who lives in Troy Hill, was excited to try the food and support a small business during the pandemic. She’s already planning to make regular visits.
“We’ve got to support local companies,” she said.
Right now, The Coop is offering carry-out only. After the covid-19 restrictions are lifted, they plan to add indoor seating.
The Coop’s food truck schedule is also available on their website.
Julia Felton is a TribLive reporter covering Pittsburgh City Hall and other news in and around Pittsburgh. A La Roche University graduate, she joined the Trib in 2020. She can be reached at jfelton@triblive.com.
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