'It was time': Bado's Pizza Grill & Ale House in Mt. Lebanon has been sold
Staffing issues combined with an offer to buy the building were two key factors in the decision to close Bado’s Pizza Grille & Ale House in Mt. Lebanon.
“I know it was a shock to a lot of people, but it was time,” Leah Badolato-Smith said Tuesday as she sat at a booth in the Mt. Lebanon restaurant owned by her father, Frank Badolato.
The last day of business is Nov. 22 for the bar and restaurant that has been a staple on Beverly Road for four decades. Badolato-Smith said her dad got an offer he couldn’t refuse. She doesn’t know who bought it, but said the purchase includes the liquor license and kitchen equipment.
She declined to disclose the purchase price.
“Staffing has been difficult since the pandemic,” she said. “At one time we had 30 to 40 employees, and now we have 12. There were times we had to close because we didn’t have enough people working.”
She thought with the news announced Monday on Facebook they might be even more short-staffed. Still, everyone showed up. One of the most dependable workers is Carlie Cain of West Mifflin. She has worked there for 20 years as a server, bartender and any job that was needed of her.
“I am going to miss all of it,” Cain said through tears. “This isn’t an easy job and dealing with the public can be challenging, but they have always treated me like family here. I have felt like this was coming for a while now. I just felt like things were different. I will be here for the final days. It’s the right thing to do.”
Being part of Mt. Lebanon for four decades was special, Badolato-Smith said. She and her dad are both Mt. Lebanon graduates.
“Generations of families have dined here,” Badolato-Smith said. “My dad loved this neighborhood, and he supported sports teams and whatever was happening in the community.”
One of those sports teams was the fast-pitch softball team coached by Brian Donahue. His daughter, Ella, a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School, works there. He regularly brought his teams to dine there.
“It’s a shame this is closing,” said Brian Donahue, who has been a customer since 1994. “It’s a nice community neighborhood atmosphere.”
The size and the age of the multilevel building — it’s at least 100 years old — was also a concern with maintenance and having employees to take care of diners in the party room and on the rooftop deck, as well as the bar and restaurant, Badolato-Smith said.
Badolato-Smith and her husband, Chris Smith, will continue to serve pizza, pasta, hoagies and other dishes from their food truck. They have a 30-foot truck that has a fully equipped kitchen and is available year-round, weather permitting, Badolato-Smith said.
They won’t be able to serve alcohol because in Allegheny County food trucks need a license for each location, she said.
“We will still be making fresh dough and sauces,” she said. “We will still be serving customers — just on wheels.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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