WIENER WORLD WELCOMES CUSTOMERS ON JUNE 3 AT ITS NEW LOCATION AT THE U.S. STEEL BUILDING. | PHOTO BY JILIAN MUSSER

The U.S. Steel Tower was buzzing with excitement on Monday when its newest lunch location opened its doors. Employees throughout the tower waited in the hallway for a chance to place their orders while others simply stopped inside to welcome Wiener World on its first day.

Since 1965, Wiener World has been a popular spot Downtown for hot dogs. However, the restaurant closed its Smithfield Street location on May 23 and announced it would open June 3 a few blocks away at the U.S. Steel Tower.

“We have worked tremendously hard to revive and keep this iconic brand alive and will now write the next chapter in a storied history,” the owners posted on their Facebook page on May 23. 

Owner Denny Scott of Wilkins told the Tribune Review that he decided to relocate because of ongoing crime and the decline of safety near his Smithfield Street location. For more than a year, he said, customers complained to Scott about not wanting to visit the Smithfield location. 

“For the last five months, the area is going back to what it was – Strawberry Way smells of urine and there’s drug dealing – and it’s too much physically and emotionally to stay,” Scott said in the Trib interview, referring to a time when an overnight shelter next door closed in June 2023, leaving more than 100 with no place to go. 

FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS WIENER WORLD OPERATED OUT OF THIS SMALL LOCATION ON SMITHFIELD STREET, DOWNTOWN. IT CLOSED ON MAY 23. | PHOTO BY JILIAN MUSSER

While customers lamented the closing of the iconic building under a colorful mural picturing Andy Warhol and Andrew Carnegie, the new location on Monday was drawing a crowd. 

“This will be a nice place to be,” Scott told the Trib about the new location.

The new location comes with a new and extended menu. A Southern-style chicken sandwich and smash burgers are joining the lineup of wraps, sandwiches, salads and hot dogs.

Wiener World is located on the concourse restaurant level of the U.S. Steel Tower and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The restaurant on June 4 also is opening a spot outside on the Steel Plaza at BG’s Downtown Beer Garden, which will run over the summer. 

Jilian Musser’s reporting is supported by the Pittsburgh Media Partnership.