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The Union Grill
The Union Grill is a restaurant in Washington, Pennsylvania, serving Italian-American cuisine. It is a popular location for the Washington County legal community. The location at the corner of Wheeling and Main Streets has been home to taverns/restaurants dating back to 1791, the beginning of the Whiskey Rebellion. It bears no relation to the similarly named restaurant in nearby Pittsburgh.[2] Food and ambiance The ambiance boasts a "frills-free Italian vibe."[2] It seats 150.[1]  The Union Grill is located in the bottom floor of the building, and because of its location at the top of a hill, part of the floor is below ground.[3] The main entrance leads down a short flight of stairs from Wheeling Street.[3] This rathskeller style entrance is the source of the restaurant's local nickname, "The Down and Under," or "D and U."[2] The bar room is filled with wooden booths, brick walls, and antique furnishings.[3] Other dining rooms split off from the main dining room, and feature Victorian oak furnishings.[3] Importance in WashingtonIt is a local landmark in Washington, particularly attracting the legal crowd from the nearby courthouse that it is "almost a clubhouse for lawyers, judges and journalists."[3] It has been described as Washington's "Place To Be Seen."[2] The "back room" serves as a "gathering point for local bigwigs."[2] For example, During the 1992 Presidential primary election in Pennsylvania, then-longshot Bill Clinton visited The Union Grill.[4][5] With its proximity to David Bradford House and Washington & Jefferson College, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said that "[l]unch or dinner at the historic Union Grill would be an appropriate way to start or end an interesting day in Washington, Pa."[3] HistoryThe Union's Grill's location in Washington was the home of the White Goose inn and tavern, dating to 1791.[1] In 1806, it was sold to John Rettig who renamed it the "Golden Swan," also called "the Sign of the Swan."[1] On August 15, 1808, printers William Sample and William B. Brown opened The Reporter (now Observer–Reporter) newspaper in the basement. The first edition featured an advertisement for the Golden Swan.[1] The original building was demolished in 1846 and replaced with a 3-story brick building called the Valentine House, which was itself destroyed by a grease fire in 1899.[1] The Siegel brothers rebuilt the building and renamed it the Siegel Hotel; it was renamed the William Henry Hotel.[1] The current iteration, The Union Grill, was opened in 1967 by Michael Flynn, whose family still owns the restaurant.[1] It was named in honor of the stonemasons and union workers who frequented the tavern.[1] In 2003, Michael "Mickey" Flynn Jr., his business partner, and 8 others were charged by Pennsylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher with running an illegal gambling ring out of the restaurant.[6][7] Flynn was convicted and was granted bond in 2006.[8] References Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Union Grill.
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