Gus and Yiayia's

Gus and Yiayia's is a food cart located in Allegheny Commons Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2] Established in 1934, it's best known for serving ice balls for kids during summer.[3]

Gus and Yiayia's
Restaurant information
Slogan	Since your dad was a lad.
Established	1934 (1934)[1]
Chef	Gus Kalaris
Dress code	Come as you are
Street address	638 West Ohio St.
City	Pittsburgh
County	Allegheny County
State	Pennsylvania
Postal/ZIP Code	15212
Coordinates	40.4520947°N 80.0122423°W / 40.4520947; -80.0122423

History

Gus Kalaris, owner of Gus and Yiayia's holding up an ice ball.

The stand was originally setup in 1917.[4] Gus Kalaris' father bought the cart in 1934 for $175 ($3,295.30 adjusted for inflation in 2019) and renamed it.[5] The name comes from the Greek term "Yiayia" meaning grandmother. The original Yiayia was his mother Pauline. In 1992 she died and Gus' wife Stella Kalaris became the next Yiayia.[6] Stella died on October 26, 2016.[7] The Gus and Yiayia's scholarship was founded in her name to benefit local kids they served.[8]

The restaurant was featured in Rick Sebak's North Side Story (1997) documentary on WQED (TV).[4] Pittsburgh City Council proclaimed April 25 “Gus and Yiayia Day.” in 2012.[9] Pittsburgh Magazine named Gus one of Pittsburgh's best personalities.[8]

Menu

The stand sells ice balls, peanuts, and popcorn. The ice balls are the main attraction.[10] Originally, the ice blocks came from a manufacturer on Brighton Road, but now the cart imports them in from Ohio.[11]

Notes

1.^ Yiayia is the correct spelling as seen on the food cart. Variations appear across media.

References

1. Honcharski, Emma (May 25, 2018). "In the City of Bridges, one closure won't stop the 84-year tradition of Gus & YiaYia's". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Block Communications. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
2. Boren, Jeremy (April 10, 2017). "Gus & Yia Yia's is back to slinging summertime treats on the North Side". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Richard Mellon Scaife. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
3. Highfield, David (May 28, 2018). "'We're Surviving': Bridge Closure Slows Business For Long-Time North Side Ice Ball Stand". KDKA-TV. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
4. Sebak, Rick (Narrator) (November 22, 2005). North Side Story (Documentary). Pittsburgh, PA: WQED (TV).
5. Krauss, Margaret (August 14, 2015). "'Since Your Dad Was a Lad': What a Snack Cart Means To A Neighborhood". WESA (FM). NPR. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
6. Schmitt, Ben (October 29, 2016). "Pittsburgh bids farewell to iconic Yia Yia". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Richard Mellon Scaife. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
7. O'Neill, Brian (October 26, 2016). "Obituary: Stella Bistolas Kalaris / Wife of famed ice ball seller on North Side". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
8. Davidson, Lauren (June 14, 2017). "Best of the 'Burgh: Personalities". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
9. Yokim, Mandy (May 26, 2015). "Top Family Adventures this June in Pittsburgh". NEXTPittsburgh. Retrieved July 2, 2019. featured in Rick Sebak’s North Side Story, and, back in 2012, the Pittsburgh City Council even proclaimed April 25 “Gus and Yia Yia Day.”
10. Idia, Tereneh (May 29, 2019). "North Side vs. Everybody". Pittsburgh City Paper. Butler Eagle. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
11. Frederick, Haley (July 11, 2018). "At Gus And Yia Yia's Shaved Ice And Homemade Syrups Have Become A Culinary Tradition On Pittsburgh's North Side". Pittsburgh Current. Retrieved June 29, 2019.