Homestead Neighborhood Report
History of Homestead
Although Europeans first settled in Homestead in the 1770s, the town wasn’t chartered until the 1880s. Soon after, the town exploded with activity as the railroad, glass factory, and iron mill all popped into existence.
The town enjoyed years of prosperous growth until 1892, the year of the infamous Homestead Strike. After workers refused to accept a reduction in wages at the Homestead Steel Works, Henry Frick, on behalf of Andrew Carnegie, locked the workers out of the factory.
As the workers showed up in droves, Frick called in guards from the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. After a tense standoff, the workers and guards erupted into battle. Eventually, the Pennsylvania governor called in the National Guard to seize control of the scene. The fight resulted in a powerful blow to unionization in the steel industry—a blow that workers wouldn’t recover from for decades.
Although the Homestead Strike is a blemish on the neighborhood’s past, it has managed to reinvent itself in recent history. The steel industry eventually died down, and the Homestead Works was demolished in the 1990s. However, the massive Waterfront Shopping Mall popped up in its place in 1999, once again making Homestead a popular daytime destination.
Homestead sits approximately six miles southeast of Downtown Pittsburgh. It’s bordered by the Monongahela River to the north, Munhall to the east and south, and West Homestead to the west.
Emergency Resources
Police Station
Homestead Borough Police Station
221 East 7th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
412-461-1344
Fire Station
Homestead Volunteer Fire Dept.
212 East 9th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
412-461-1342
Hospitals
While Homestead itself doesn’t have a local hospital, there are many within driving distance. Two of the closest:
UPMC McKeesport
1500 5th Ave., McKeesport, PA 15132
412-664-2000
UPMC Presbyterian
200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-647-2345
Doctor Offices
Prime Care Internal Medicine
220 East 8th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
412-461-7220
8th Avenue Medical Center
330 East 8th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
412-462-6001
South Hills Family Medicine
495 East Waterfront Dr., Suite 250, Homestead, PA 15120
412-833-6176
Allegheny Podiatry Foot and Ankle
495 East Waterfront Dr., Suite 230, Homestead, PA 15120
412-461-1108
Mental Health
Steel Valley Wellness Group
3212 Main St., Fl 1, Munhall, PA 15120
412-461-1108
Turtle Creek Valley Mental
1800 West St., Suite 3, Homestead, PA 15120
412-462-9901
Eye Care
Eyepolis
3136 Main St, Munhall, PA 15120
412-464-2020
MS Vision Care
360 East Waterfront Dr., Homestead, PA 15120
412-464-2514
Top Homestead Restaurants
While the Waterfront has a wide selection of restaurants and bars, Homestead itself has a vibrant mix of eateries. Here’s where you’ll find some of the best spots (according to Google reviews):
Babylon Restaurant And Bar
Address: 879 Forest Ave, Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 412-461-9169
Google Rating: 4.8
Description: Babylon celebrates the flavors of the Middle East, and it’s consistently one of the highest-reviewed restaurants in Homestead!
Secretos De Mis Abuelos
Address: 145 E 8th Ave, Homestead, PA 15120
Google Rating: 4.8
Description: This cozy restaurant is Pittsburgh’s first authentic Puerto Rican eatery and food truck, and it specializes in serving up its own secret family recipes.
Golden Age Beer Company
Address: 337 E 8th Ave, Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 412-205-3635
Google Rating: 4.8
Description: This restaurant and beer garden is an exciting destination punctuated by wood-fired cuisine and a terrific cocktail menu.
Los Gallitos Taqueria
Address: 216 E 8th Ave, Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 412-530-2372
Google Rating: 4.7
Description: Los Gallitos Taqueria is relatively new to Homestead, but it’s already racked up tons of 5-star reviews for its outstanding Mexican food.
Eighth & Hays
Address: 130 West 8th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 412-326-0009
Google Rating: 4.7
Description: Enormous windows, high ceilings, a fireplace, and a hint of industrial design. The only thing prettier than Eighth & Hays’s interior is the meals they serve up—a wide selection of gourmet pizzas, paninis, and more.
DiSallas’ Pizza Parlor
Address: 948 East 8th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 412-462-5070
Google Rating: 4.6
Description: A neighborhood favorite for decades, DiSallas’ serves up pizza by the slice or pie.
Top Homestead Shopping Locations
Homestead is well known for the Waterfront shopping center, which actually spans along the river from West Homestead all the way to Munhall. The Waterfront offers a huge selection of shopping and activities, including:
Groceries
Medical offices
Restaurants
Movie theater
Hotels
Sandcastle Water Park
The Waterfront is located at 149 West Bridge St., Homestead, PA 15120.
Annual Homestead Events
Pittsburgh Irish Festival
Date: Second weekend of September
Location: The Lots at Sandcastle (1000 Sandcastle Dr., West Homestead, PA 15120)
About the event: A celebration of Pittsburgh’s rich Irish culture, as well as marking the halfway point to St. Patrick’s Day on the calendar, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival pulls together food, drinks, and entertainment in one fun experience.
Apples and Honey Fall Festival
Date: September of each year
Location: Waterfront Town Center (149 West Bridge St., Homestead, PA 15120)
About the event: A celebration of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, the Apples and Honey festival features apples, honey, crafts, activities, and many other forms of entertainment.
Neighborhood Parks
Frick Park
Not to be confused with the larger Frick Park north of the river. Frick Park in Homestead offers playgrounds, bike and hiking trails, and a community garden for educational and sustainability use.
Address: 1008 Amity St., Homestead, PA 15120
Easiest Access: Take Amity Street to the park.
Park Features:
Playground
Grassy fields with lots of shade
Paved walkways
An old turret
A marble slab of the ten commandments
Charlie Batch Playground
Address: 1511 Maple St., Homestead, PA 15120
Easiest Access: Travel southeast on West Street, then turn left onto 16th Avenue.
Park Features:
Playground
Basketball courts
Sullivan Playground
Address: East 9th Avenue and Amity Street
Easiest Access: From West Street, turn northeast onto East 9th Avenue. Travel one block to Amity Street.
Park Features:
Playground
Basketball court
McLean Playground
Address: West 12th Avenue and Sarah Street
Easiest Access: From West Street, turn southwest onto West 12th Street. Travel one block to Sarah Street.
Park Features:
Playground
Basketball court
Neighborhood Gyms
UFC Gym Waterfront
340 E Waterfront Dr, Homestead, PA 15120
412-461-2759
Sidequest MMA Academy
113 West Bridge St, Homestead, PA 15120
412-759-7976
Schools and Universities in Homestead
Propel Charter School - Homestead (K-12)
Address: 129 East 10th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 412-323-7305
Barrett Elementary School (K-4)
Address: 221 East 12th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 412-464-3600
Access to Highways and Other Major Roadways
Route 837
Travel northwest on West Street, then turn onto 8th Avenue.
Route 376
Travel northwest on West Street to cross Homestead Grays Bridge onto Browns Hill Road. Follow Browns Hill Road onto Beechwood Boulevard, then take the Boulevard to 376.
Homestead-Based Contractors
Here’s a list of contractors based in Homestead:
Landscaper
Peak Landscape Management
1925 Forest Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
412-461-7460
Horhut
907 Forest Ave, West Homestead, PA 15120
412-758-8266
PLUMBER
Proudfoot Plumbing, Heating And Air
229 West 8th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
412-461-2198
Hruska Plumbing, Heating & Air
1811 McClure St., Homestead, PA 15120
412-4533-4471
Bucci & Son, LLC Plumbing
408 W 7th Ave, West Homestead, PA 15120
CONTRACTOR
Extreme Restoration
301 West 8th Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
412-462-8898
John D. Caruso, Inc.
1029 Forest Ave., Homestead, PA 15120
412-476-3060
Rosato & Sons
223 E 7th Ave, Homestead, PA 15120
412-462-4757
ELECTRICIAN
Mooney Brothers Electricians
430 E 10th Ave., Suite 7300, Munhall, PA 15120
412-899-2855