Drew's Family Restaurant in Forest Hills to close

Update: Drew’s Family Restaurant was closed Saturday morning. Most of its signage is gone, and empty parking lots on either side of the restaurant are taped off. Chatter on social media indicates the owners decided to close Friday night instead of Sunday. Nobody answered the phone at the restaurant Saturday morning.

Drew’s Family Restaurant will close for good on Sunday, workers confirmed, ending a 76-year run for the Forest Hills fixture.

Ownership had been unsuccessfully searching for a buyer, but the news still came as a shock to employees and customers. In September, the restaurant’s owners announced that they were trying to sell the restaurant. They posted a statement on Facebook, vowing to “remain open and ready to serve our customers until we find new owners to pass the torch along to.”

An asking price was listed at $1.5 million.

The Ardmore Boulevard eatery was opened by Spiro Countouris as Dennis Diner in 1948. A family establishment, it was renamed Drew’s to honor Andrew Countouris, who died of a coronary embolism at age 21 in 1982. His three surviving brothers — Louis, Peter and Jerry — renamed the place in 1985.

A popular breakfast spot, the restaurant is also known for its burgers, soups and dessert.

That storied history took a turn for the worse in recent years, according to server and cook Kalea Slaby.

“We used to have a line at the door,” Slaby said. “Not anymore.”

North Huntingdon chef Logan Caswell bought the restaurant from Louis Countouris in 2019, promising to preserve the menu and keep up old family photos.

While the transition went smoothly at first, Slaby said Caswell was less hands-on than past ownership. Workers have “pretty much run this place the last couple years,” she said.

Caswell was not available to comment when TribLive visited the restaurant on Friday.

With Drew’s closure, so goes memories, relationships and a “terrific Reuben,” according to regular Carolyn Reuter.

“Forest Hills will miss it,” Reuter said, tearing up.

Frank Pearsol, another frequent customer, agreed that the restaurant had gone downhill recently, but still fondly recalls dining there before Steelers games with his father and brother more than 20 years ago.

Looks like Drew’s Family Restaurant is not staying open until Sunday pic.twitter.com/6Sdzu7XnJP

— Ben Schmitt (@bencschmitt) January 13, 2024

Don Glenn, who sat alongside Pearsol, said the two will likely make Dick’s Diner in Murrysville their go-to spot. He’d heard that one of his favorite servers at Drew’s had recently begun work there. Still, he lamented the loss for the community.

“The area needs a good restaurant like this,” Glenn said.