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After leading his team to a Super Bowl victory in 2006, former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis is tackling the foodservice industry as the face of a new restaurant, Jerome Bettis' Grille 36 in Pittsburgh.
Designed to celebrate the career of the No. 5 all-time rusher in the National Football League, the eatery occupies 8,500 square feet in the North Shore on the Heinz Field side of the Del Monte Building. The restaurant had its grand opening June 5.
Jerome Bettis' Grille 36 will be the latest edition to the rising North Shore area, placed directly between Heinz Field and PNC Park, the respective home stadiums of the Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The restaurant will receive competition from other eateries including McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon, Hyde Park Steakhouse, and Calico Jacks Cantina. The North Shore area also recently became the headquarters of Fox Sports Network.
Celebrity Ventures Inc., a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based sports-theme restaurant company that has developed concepts for former Florida Marlins player Jeff Conine and former football star Eddie George, recommended the project to Bettis. The company is currently seeking additional ventures with basketball star Shaquille O'Neal and an undisclosed NASCAR celebrity.
"Through our success and the way we execute operationally, Eddie was more than willing to recommend us to Jerome to do the project in Pittsburgh," says Bob McCarthy, vice president of...