After several years of a complete redesign, SouthSide Works has attracted tenants from far and wide: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus sells some of the best ice cream in the country, and Osaka’s Kura revolving sushi bar serves sushi conveyors.
       “Guests can look forward to our double-deck conveyor system, water delivery robots, prizes for eating sushi and more,” says Lauren Murakami, director of PR and social media at Kura.
       The assembly line method is well suited to methodically making sushi, and has been a viable concept for many years in Japan and elsewhere.
       Jeni’s finally opened its first Pittsburgh location in Bakery Square this year, with the South Side location to be its second.
        Before it became a trend, Jeni’s made ice cream with unusual, unique flavors for those willing to look beyond vanilla and mint chocolate. Current flavors include watermelon toffee, golden nectar (“tastes like caramel chips in the summer sun”), powdered jelly donut, bagel, and High Five chocolate bar. However, fragrances are constantly coming and going, so there is always something new to discover.
        Kura’s revolving sushi bar and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams are expected to open in 2023 at the box office (formerly the SouthSide Works Cinema). SouthSide Works owner SomeraRoad and development partner HOK will transform the theater into a Grade A office building in 2021.
        Other projects coming to SouthSide Works include a new dog park with Levity Brewing, which is now open, and a number of modular restaurants soon to open in the town square. Pins Mechanical (bar/pinball/game concept) is scheduled to open next month. The Speckled Egg and Commonplace Coffee are currently updating their joint concept, which is scheduled to open in early 2023.
       The Park, a 247-unit development overlooking the Monongahela River, also recently began construction on SouthSide Works.
        Michael Machoski is a writer and journalist with 18 years of experience writing about everything from development news, food and movies to art, travel, books and music. He lives in Greenfield with his wife Shauna and their 10 year old son.