PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHILLIN’ DRIVE THRU

After 35 years in the restaurant business, the Baranowski family is finally Chillin’. 

The owners of North Park Lounge locations in McCandless and Murrsyville, Shooters Golf and Barry’s Pub are opening a drive-thru spot that serves small bites, vegan and gluten-free refreshments, coffee concoctions made with La Prima Espresso Co. coffee beans, iced teas, Italian sodas, milkshakes, fresh-squeezed lemonade and Lotus brand plant-based energy drinks. Customers can say “Energize it!” and get an 80-milligram shot of caffeine in one of their refresher drinks.

Chillin’ Drive Thru, which is attached to North Park Lounge in McCandless, opens in April and will operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be two drive-thru lanes at 8701 Babcock Blvd. and a lane for folks who ordered through the Chillin’ mobile app.

McDonald’s recently debuted a drive-thru concept, CosMc’s, in Illinois and Baranowski thought it was a great idea for Pittsburgh. He hopes to open multiple locations in the area. It’s a business model that makes sense post-pandemic when a lot of patrons are getting takeout instead of dining in.

Mark Baranowski, who runs the family-owned company with his wife, Eileen, and daughter, Jordan, thinks Chillin’ is the perfect option for local students, healthcare professionals and parents on their way to or from North Park’s playgrounds.  

To create the spot, he carved out some space in North Park Lounge, installed a new kitchen and put up a soundproof wall between the two businesses so bar patrons won’t hear the constant hum of blenders and Chillin’ employees won’t hear Steelers fans losing their cool during televised games. 

The Chillin’ kitchen will specialize in breakfast and lunch items such as avocado toast, hash browns, salad shakers, sandwiches, wraps, a designated kids menu, pup cups and sleeves of bacon — in case you feel like sizzlin’ while you’re chillin’.

Longtime customers of North Park Lounge, an eatery that opened in 1989, will notice a familiar face on Chillin’s cups: Cole Caruso. The Baranowskis’ 24-year-old nephew has held every position at the restaurant and, thanks to his friendly disposition, is the designated spokesman for the new venture. He pulls double duty for the family business by managing Shooters. 

In addition to Caruso’s smiling mug, the cups will feature inspirational quotes and funny sayings — as if a paper sleeve filled with bacon isn’t enough to brighten someone’s day.