Step inside The Pines Eatery and Spirits in Downtown Hazleton and you can’t help but spot signs of the building’s past. Perhaps the most noticeable is the stunning, old bank vault that sits just behind the bar. It’s reminiscent of the time when the building housed the Markle Banking & Trust Company. According to The Pines, when the 11-story structure was built in 1910, it was not only Hazleton’s tallest building, but also the first of its kind in Pennsylvania since no wood was used in its construction.
Now the old mixes with the new as the historic building plays host to live music every Friday night, while bartenders serve up creative cocktails alongside tasty sandwiches and a range of entrees. Those in the know with Hazleton history might recognize another nod to the past on the menu … Knotty Pines Original BBQ. The sandwich is made from the same recipe that was once the specialty of the Knotty Pines Restaurant, which closed its doors in 2010 after 73 years as a fixture in the community.
The hometown flavor featured on the menu can also be part of private parties and events. With a main dining room, café area, mezzanine floor and meeting room, The Pines can accommodate up to 250 people.
From the carefully restored Art Deco ceilings, reaching 30 feet high, to the intricate workings inside the old vault, The Pines Eatery & Spirits perfectly blends Hazleton’s history with the food and fun in the heart of the city.