The Rosecliff Tavern - By Robert Holmes
In 1958, Rose and Cliff Grubbs started a business together, a small neighborhood bar and restaurant in the heart of Monroeville and close to the Miracle Mile shopping center that had opened just four years before. Cliff invented the famous Grubburger, with its unique shape and the secret ingredient that you can’t quite pinpoint. As the years went by, the Grubbs built up a loyal following of locals – especially those who could walk down the hill from the Caruso plan, in fact, a few of the old bartenders still live back there!
The Grubbs passed the business to the Tolerico family in 1986, and Fred, and later Casey brought the famous Casey’s pizza into the mix. Over the years, matches were made across bar stools, customers met and married – and stopped by the bar after their weddings to celebrate. It was the sort of place you could go to alone and know you would find a friend – or at least a friendly face.
The Rosecliff Lounge as we all knew it closed in 2005 when the Tolericos left to open their eponymous restaurant, but the legacy of that friendly neighborhood bar lived on in the memories of many. Once the property became available, people started inquiring – could they put the work into this old building and turn it back into a much loved neighborhood watering hole? Quite a few people turned away, daunted by the task. Josh Parente thought that perhaps he could. His mother, Michele, had worked at the Rosecliff as a bartender since 1986. Josh had spent many lunches and a few happy hours there. He had stopped by after his wedding to celebrate with his wife – they all knew what a special place it was.
If you were ever in the old Rosecliff, you may be wondering what exactly is left. The bar is the same for sure – there’s something about a U-shaped bar that invites friendly conversation. Over on the wall close to the front door is a framed square of green – remember when the whole bar was that color? (did you know it was wallpaper? We didn’t!) Josh and his mom have changed a lot about the bar: the walls, the floor, the kitchen, and even the menu (although you will find the Grubburger on there) – what they hope stays the same is that great atmosphere that the customers supplied. The friendly conversation – that place to go when you wanted to meet up with old friends or make new ones. Welcome to the new Rosecliff Tavern!
