Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Inc. is in business to please people through its portfolio of regional foodservice concepts that focus on personalized dining.
The Homestead, Pa.-based company began as a single drive-in restaurant with carhops in Pittsburgh in 1949. Today, the 65-year-old company manages seven different restaurant companies and serves more than 50 million guests every year. Eat’n Park Hospitality Group states that people are its common focus throughout each branch of the organization.
“From the thousands of guests, clients, residents and visitors that we serve every day in each of our locations, to nearly 10,000 team members who are at the heart of our company – we care about people,” the company states. “We are committed to treating our guests, team members and clients like friends, serving outstanding food and, above all, doing the right thing.”
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group manages Parkhurst Dining, Cura Hospitality, Smileycookie.com, Six Penn Kitchen, The Porch at Schenley, Hello Bistro and Eat’n Park restaurants. The seven companies can be found on college and corporate campuses and in retirement communities and hospitals on the East Coast.
Carhops and Cookies
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group prides itself on being a company of big dreams and humble beginnings. The company left no demographic untouched when it built its seven restaurant companies. Eat’n Park was the company’s first restaurant and today has more than 70 locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
The menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites. The carhops may be gone, but Eat’n Park maintains its commitment to providing great food, exceptional value and outstanding service. “Our restaurants have become institutions in the communities that we serve,” the company states.
Smileycookie.com was started as a vehicle to communicate the ethos of Eat’n Park – the place for smiles. “Soon our cookie became not just the icon of a delightful family dining experience, but a symbol of commitment to community involvement and support; indeed the heart of the company,” the company says. Today, Smileycookie.com is a delivery company offering freshly baked Smiley Cookies that can be delivered all over the country.
Bistro Craze
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group includes three bistros in its portfolio of companies: Six Penn, The Porch at Schenley and Hello Bistro. Six Penn is a casual yet elegant American bistro that features fresh cuisine and relaxed but attentive service. The menu changes seasonally to highlight the company’s partnerships with many local farmers and food artisans.
“Our menu highlights seasonal ingredients and takes an updated approach to regional classics,” the company notes. “From our stocks and sauces in the kitchen, to the vermouth-marinated olives and house-made maraschino cherries at the bar, everything is expertly prepared and crafted in-house.”
The Porch at Schenley is an Oakland neighborhood bistro in Pittsburgh, situated within Schenley Plaza. This restaurant serves the university community, neighborhood regulars and park users. Its menu features simple and delicious made-from-scratch food. “The Porch is an authentic everyday experience for a casual meal, a special occasion destination or a great place to enjoy the sights and sounds of Oakland while unwinding with a cold drink with new friends or old,” the company states.
Hello Bistro exists in the crossroads of classic and cutting-edge by combining Eat’n Park favorites and fresh, new flavors in an urban setting. The menu features burgers, grilled “sam’iches,” breakfast and a salad bar with more than 55 toppings.
Catering to All
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group has a catering service and a company dedicated to serving fresh, nutritious and delicious meals to senior living communities and hospitals.
Cura Hospitality serves senior living communities and hospitals throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern region of the United States. “Cura is synonymous with ‘care for the soul’ and was chosen as the company’s name to personally reflect our belief in treating seniors, patients, families and clients with respect, dignity and concern,” the company states. The company’s mission is to “enhance life around great food.” Cura Hospitality offers menu items that include enriched foods, home-style recipes, puree creations and hydration snacks.
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group’s Parkhurst Dining Services company is dedicated to creating personal relationships and exceptional culinary experiences for corporations, private higher-education institutions and cultural centers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The company’s HemisFlavors program provides guests with authentic cuisine from around the world. “Our FarmSource program allows our executive chefs to create recipes from scratch using the freshest, most wholesome local ingredients,” the company notes. “Through this unique approach we have positioned ourselves as a leader in on-site dining.”
Community Outreach
Being part of the community is woven into the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group culture. Every year, the company donates at least five percent of its pre-tax earnings to local charities. Its team member-driven “Caring for Kids” campaign has raised more than $7 million for local children’s hospitals.
In 2010, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group launched its “LifeSmiles” program and through this initiative it has strengthened and expanded its commitment to the health and well-being of children. “Because of the unique make-up of our organization and the passion of our team members, we feel we can combine our corporate resources to make an impact on our communities,” the company states.
LifeSmiles is built on four primary pillars: empowering parents and caregivers with choices; providing healthier food in schools through education and partnerships; providing access to healthy, affordable food in under-served communities; and increasing physical activity through community walks, runs and events. “We use LifeSmiles as the inspiration for all of our philanthropic efforts,” the company notes. “We’ve made a five-year commitment to provide $1 million and 20,000 volunteer hours to programs and partnerships that support health and wellness initiatives in the communities we serve.”