Bethel Park hotel hosts ‘grand reopening’ after renovations
Harry Funk / Staff Greeting patrons of Gather, the new restaurant at Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites Pittsburgh South, are, from left, Brianna Mignone, Leslie Naple and Shyan Montuoro.
Harry Funk / Staff General manager Scott Parsons speaks about the hotel’s renovations during the “grand reopening.”
Harry Funk / Staff Steven Guy, president and chief executive officer of Oxford Development Co., speaks about Oxford’s projects in the vicinity.
Harry Funk / Staff A new appearance for the Crowne Plaza’s ballroom
Harry Funk / Staff The Crowne Plaza’s ballroom has hosted many a wedding reception.
Harry Funk / Staff A new look for the hotel’s lobby
Harry Funk / Staff The stage of Slapsticks Comedy Club in the Allegheny Room
Despite having to navigate around remodeling activities for the better part of a year, it was business as usually for staff members at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites Pittsburgh South in Bethel Park.
“I would like to thank our associates of the hotel,” general manager Scott Parsons said during a “grand reopening” celebration on Tuesday. “To remain open during a 10-month renovation is not exactly the funnest thing to do.”
Perseverance paid off, though, in a vibrant makeover for the venerable place of lodging, starting with the lobby.
“We have a large, wide-open entranceway, lots of bright colors, and we’ve actually brought the restaurant from the back to the hotel out to the front, where it’s more visible,” Parsons explained, referring to Gather, which replaces the former PJ’s Grille.
Also new to the hotel is Slapsticks Comedy Club at the Crowne, which will be housed in the first-floor Allegheny Room for performances starting Oct. 7, with a night featuring Rich Harkaway and Sean Collier.
“Looking at the Allegheny Room floor plan, I knew it was right for comedy,” David Kaye, veteran standup comedian and owner of Slapsticks Productions, said. “The shape and size is perfect for an intimate comedy club atmosphere. Guests will really enjoy the newly remodeled retro-’60s vibe of the hotel. It has a real ‘Mad Men’ appeal, and you feel like the Rat Pack may saunter into the show.”
Renovations to the hotel’s ballroom include new carpet, wall vinyl and a state-of-the art lighting system as the space continues to hosts wedding receptions, meetings, banquets and other gatherings.
Those include proms, the likes of which Steven Guy, president and chief executive officer of Crowne Plaza South owner Oxford Development Co., attended at the hotel as a Bethel Park student in the ’70s.
“Bethel Park was really the founding place of our first large projects and many of our successes,” he said, citing the 1962 start of what became South Hills Village mall and several other commercial buildings in the vicinity, including many along Oxford Drive.
Oxford Development bought the hotel in 2014, bringing Green Tree-based Prospera Hospitality on board for management. Strada Architecture, located in downtown Pittsburgh, worked on designs for the renovations.