Slick’s Bar, the close‑knit neighborhood hangout on Capital Avenue in Brookline, is set to pour its final drinks at the end of February after nearly 19 years, owners John and Mary Rose Louis told reporters. Regulars, from pool teams to longtime neighbors, say the news landed hard and fast, and the couple confirmed they do not plan to relocate.
As reported by WTAE, the shutdown is tied to the building’s owner, Fiorentino Moscatiello of Fiori’s Pizzaria, who says an Allegheny County Health Department mandate is forcing him to add separate men’s and women’s restrooms and make the restaurant handicapped‑accessible. He plans to meet those requirements by expanding into the bar space next door. Moscatiello told Action News 4 that “the health department, we have to upgrade a little bit,” and said he does not have enough room to complete the work within the existing restaurant footprint. The Louis family said their lease will not be renewed, and Slick’s will close for good at the end of the month.
Fiori’s is a Brookline mainstay
Fiori’s Pizzaria has anchored this block of Capital Avenue for decades and drew wider attention last year when storms ripped up its roof; the shop later reopened after repairs, according to WPXI. The pizza shop at 103 Capital Avenue remains a popular late‑night stop in Brookline, with customer reviews and local guides continuing to praise its pies, per TripAdvisor.
Owners and neighbors react
Mary Rose Louis told Action News 4 the development is “shocking, devastating, very sad,” and said Slick’s has long served as a home‑away‑from‑home for people who might otherwise be alone. Staff and patrons have been pulling trophies and photos off the walls and boxing them up while friends trade memories at the bar’s tables. The couple says they plan to lock the doors for good rather than try to reopen in another location, as reported by WTAE.
Why restrooms and accessibility matter
Moscatiello told reporters the push for separate restrooms and accessibility upgrades came from county health officials. Local health and building rules commonly require sufficient plumbing and accessible facilities for food‑service operations. On the federal level, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires places of public accommodation to make facilities accessible when they are newly constructed or altered, and the Department of Justice’s Title III guidance sets minimum standards for accessible restrooms and routes, per ADA.gov…