Fire destroys Guy's Tavern building in Avonmore
Lisa Sturiale fought back tears Friday morning as she stood steps away from crews battling a fire that destroyed her family’s commercial building in Avonmore.
Guy’s Tavern on Westmoreland Avenue erupted in flames around 2 a.m. Sturiale, who lives in Pittsburgh’s North Side, said the building was originally owned by her late grandfather, Charlie Sturiale, and later by her father, Guy Sturiale. It’s been in the family since the 1940s.
“That’s my Dad’s legacy,” Lisa Sturiale said. “I watched it all go up in smoke.”
Sturiale, who declined to say whether the property was insured, described the building as “demolished.” She said the building’s two floors collapsed, and fire and water destroyed everything inside.
“I assume it will need to be torn down since it’s not going to be safe,” said Sturiale, who said she was on the scene on behalf of her 87-year-old mother. “I’m thankful nobody was hurt.”
Avonmore Assistant Fire Chief and Police Chief Jim Shaffer said no one was injured, and the tavern had been closed when the fire started.
The cause of the fire was not known Friday morning. Westmoreland County fire marshals are investigating.
Sturiale said officials told her they suspected that the fire started in the rear of the building.
Originally called Roma Restaurant, the large building housed several apartments, Guy’s Tavern and the former Charlie’s Dance Land.
Sturiale said the building was used as a location for the 2012 film “Promised Land,” starring Matt Damon.
Gilpin Township Supervisor Charlie Stull said volunteer firefighters from Gilpin responded to the fire around 4 a.m., sending only a tanker because of water issues at the scene. In all, 15 departments responded.
Firefighters cleared the scene by 1:30 p.m., according to Sturiale.
Fire crews were sent back to the scene at about 5:10 p.m. when the building remains rekindled.
BREAKING: flames were pouring out of every window of Guys Tavern in Westmoreland County. We are LIVE on @WPXI at 5 AM as firefighters face some water challenges. pic.twitter.com/FctLOIA4k6
— WPXIJennifer Tomazic (@JenniferTomazic) September 3, 2021
TRAFFIC ALERT: Westmoreland Ave Blocked in Avonmore, Westmoreland Co due to a fire at Guy's Tavern. Use Indiana Ave as an Alternate Route. #PittsburghTraffic #WPXI https://t.co/UyYsfsftyh pic.twitter.com/pIQdpsf1Qj
— WPXI Traffic (@WPXITraffic) September 3, 2021
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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