A beloved name in Western Pennsylvania history is making a long-awaited return. For the first time in decades, a brand-new Isaly’s store is opening—this time in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
According to the Pittsburgh Business Times, Jim Conroy and his wife Leslee—owners of the Isaly’s brand—plan to open the store at 200 Penn Avenue, in the former Boulevard Glass & Metal building. The new shop will feature classic Isaly’s menu items, homemade ice cream, and seating for up to 70 guests.
Among the nostalgic favorites making a comeback: the towering Skyscraper Cones and the beloved Klondike-style bars.
Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, with a target opening in the second quarter of next year.
The Isaly name stretches all the way back to 1833, when Christian Isaly, a Swiss cheesemaker, emigrated to Monroe County, Ohio. His descendants founded the first Isaly’s dairy and delicatessen in Mansfield, Ohio in the early 1900s, growing it into a thriving chain that would eventually spread across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and beyond.
In Pittsburgh, Isaly’s became more than a store—it became part of daily life. At its peak, there were dozens of locations across Western PA, each known for quick lunches, sweet treats, and warm memories. The company is credited with inventing the Skyscraper Cone, pioneering the pre-packaged Klondike Bar, and popularizing the Pittsburgh staple known as chipped chopped ham—thinly sliced deli ham smothered in tangy barbecue sauce.
Though most storefronts disappeared over the years, the Isaly’s brand endured on grocery shelves and in family kitchens. For many, it’s a name that brings back memories of lunch counters, soda fountains, and weekend stops with grandparents.
Now, with this new Strip District location, Isaly’s is poised to serve a whole new generation—and rekindle a classic piece of Pittsburgh’s past.
