Pittsburgh and Palm Springs are worlds away from each other, but restaurant real estate expert Herky Pollock will be bringing a taste of the coast to Pittsburgh in spring 2025 with new concept Palm Palm. Pollock released a statement that the growing Eastside shopping and dining complex at 5996 Centre Avenue will include debut Palm Palm from Pollock, his wife Lisa, and chefs Ed and Amanda Smith of Ritual House.
This new development comes after Pollock parted ways with real estate company CBRE earlier in 2024. With or without CBRE, Pollock is not stopping. Pollock currently owns Ritual House, Shorty’s Pins x Pints on the North Shore, Shorty’s Tap x Taco in The Waterfront, and the ever-popular Burgatory restaurants.
Herky Pollock to Debut New Restaurant Palm Palm
For Palm Palm, Pollock will draw inspiration from the photography of renowned celebrity photographer Slim Aarons, whose work graced Town & Country and Life, among other swanky publications. Though Aarons began as a combat photographer, he pivoted to photographing “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” Aarons never used a stylist or a makeup artist for his subjects, preferring to let their natural glamor shine through. As a fun trivia tidbit, Aarons photographed the decadent Palm Springs home of Pittsburgh retail magnate Edgar Kaufmann for one of his most iconic images for the photo series Poolside Gossip.
A World of Ease and Elegance
Palm Palm once again merges Palm Springs and Pittsburgh, but you won’t need to be a Kaufmann to eat there. “Guests will feel like they have walked into one of Slim Aarons’ iconic photographs,” Pollock said. “Palm Palm is going to be a treat for eyes while offering something truly unique to the East End dining scene. Palm Palm will epitomize an approachable living-well attitude offering an immersive escape into a world of ease and elegance.”
The interior design will feature a blend of sleek mid-century modern furniture, warm woods, and accents of gold and brass. Pollock plans to include vintage photographs, including Slim Aarons’ own work, and a custom mural. Guests will be able to dine in two private rooms or out on the patio—provided the Pittsburgh weather matches Palm Springs.
Executive Chef Ed Smith’s menu at will showcase a mixture of South American and Californian cuisine, with vibrant, lively dishes to inspire the senses. For more restaurant openings to stay up to date on the newest Pittsburgh real estate and restaurant news, including from Herky Pollock, check out our continually updated 2024-2025 master list of new business openings.
Story by Emma Riva
Photo by Peter Thomas
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