Business owner ready to open restaurant/bar in Rostraver Township

Kathy Heinz expects Small Town Tavern to begin operating in August or early September.

There’s going to be a new restaurant in Rostraver Township called Small Town Tavern and the owner, Kathy Heinz, is excited to open and meet her new customers.

Heinz has been a business owner for a long time, and she wants local residents to know that her restaurant is aiming to stick around.

“I just want people to understand I’ve been a business owner for 10 plus years now,” Heinz said, “so it’s not like I’m a flake that’s coming in and just taking it over like this other guy and in two years I’m going to be bankrupt.”

Heinz is taking over the space where Dawg’s Sports Bar and Grill used to be located at 110 Sara Way. She made it clear that she has no connection with the previous owner.

“I have no affiliation to Dawgs, the owner of Dawgs, the eviction of that business or the bankruptcy. I am a new tenant with a new lease. I know the rumors have been flying,” Heinz wrote in a Facebook post.

Heinz is the owner of multiple businesses, including another restaurant called KJ’s Korner Kitchen in Rices Landing.

She also owns two businesses in Belle Vernon, Hey Juicy, a vape shop, and The Gray Area, a body piercing shop. The Gray Area also has body jewelry, glass products and CBD products.

The main drive for Heinz to become a business owner was the pleasure of being her own boss. Working with customers is something she’s also enjoyed.

“I’ve been self-employed for 10 years now, I don’t want to work for someone else anymore,” Heinz said. “Years ago I managed a bar with a small little restaurant, but yes I enjoy it.”

Heinz had her eye on the spot where Dawg’s used to be and was hoping to purchase the location from the previous owner.

“I was actually looking to buy it off the owner that was here, but I didn’t know all the legalities he was messed up in,” Heinz said.

Heinz is looking forward to bringing a new place into the Valley and having a space where she can host fundraising events and live entertainment.

“Hopefully we’re going to do some fundraisers for animal shelters and things like that,” she said.

Heinz is hoping to host trivia nights and karaoke and have occasional bands for live entertainment.

She’s still in the process of hiring staff for Small Town Tavern and is looking for bartenders, Heinz is hoping to officially open the restaurant in August or the beginning of September.

The menu for Small Town Tavern hasn’t been finalized, but Heinz said to expect a wide variety of food for everyone.

“It’s going to be all around, if a couple is to come in on a date and have a seafood dinner or a family of four to five want to come in and just have a burger and fries, they can do that,” Heinz said. “I just want to cater to everybody.”

For the grand opening, she plans to offer deals and giveaways and expects to have something big for customers.

Updates on the restaurant’s opening will be posted to Small Town Tavern’s restaurant page on Facebook, along with times when Heinz will be at the restaurant location accepting job applications.