Etna Borough Becoming a Hot Spot
- Vanessa Orr
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Etna was home to blast furnaces, steel mills and other manufacturing facilities that gave off a constant glow — so much so that early settlers named the town after the Sicilian volcano Mount Etna. Today, the borough is still red hot as new businesses and residents flock to the increasingly popular area located across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh.
“I believe Etna is very much up-and-coming; it’s a great place to do business and a good place to live,” said Dick Pollak, who is a third-generation candymaker and owner of Pollak’s Candies. “A lot of people are starting to realize how great it is to live in a small town, and that definitely helps our business. People are coming back to ‘Main Street’ and patronizing the little guys.”
Pollak’s grandfather, an orphan, worked in the steel mills before being taken in by a Sharpsburg candymaker who taught him the trade. His grandparents lived in Etna and started the business in approximately 1948, though Pollak said that it might have been even earlier. Generations of families have enjoyed the store’s homemade treats, which include caramels, cherries, cordial fruits, nuggets, clusters and more.
“We make everything from scratch,” said Pollak, “which not everybody is doing anymore. The industry takes a lot of shortcuts now, but we don’t; it’s a dying art.”
“We take a lot of pride in what we do,” he added. “We use the best ingredients, which I know is cliché, but I worry more about putting out a good product than making a profit. We also do a lot of custom items that other candymakers don’t know how to do — we have so many years of experience.”
Creating a Community
One of the unique things about Etna is that businesses — both young and old — work together to support each other. For example, Reno’s Deli, which opened in December 2025, carries Pollak’s candies in its store; CoStar Brewing provides a place where Reno’s Deli customers can sit and eat their sandwiches while enjoying a beer. CoStar recently created a special beer that will be served at Senza Wine Bar, and each of these business owners spends money with each other, supporting the local economy.
“We all support each other in some way, which you don’t see in a lot of communities,” said Dominic Cincotta, owner and partner in CoStar Brewing, which opened in February 2024.
This support goes so far, in fact, that when CoStar had no luck looking for a building for its brewery, Borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage, in only 48 hours, found them land in which to build.
“Etna really wanted a brewery, and the borough owned a small lot that had an empty lot beside it,” explained Cincotta. “Working with the Economic Development Committee, they arranged to sell us their lot and engineered the sale of the adjacent lot so that we could build. Robert Tuñón, Etna’s mayor and an architect by trade, also designed the shape of our building and the layout.”
Caitlin Steel, owner of Senza Wine Bar, said that it was serendipity that brought their business to Etna. The owners of Bar Marco in the Strip District were looking for a location for their new venture and had a friend looking for someone to fill his lease.
“It kind of fell into our laps,” she said, “and even though we didn’t know much about Etna, we love it here. Everyone is so welcoming and interested in what we’re doing, and there’s a lot of foot traffic, which is great.”
“We not only get a lot of locals, but also people from Fox Chapel, Lawrenceville, the Strip District and Sharpsburg,” she added. “They’re realizing that this is a very cool town.”
Senza, which opened in February 2026, offers a wine-heavy menu, some cocktails and smaller sharing-type plates in an atmosphere designed to encourage socializing and learning about wine in a friendly, neighborhood setting.
“We’ve been really busy; on Fridays and Saturdays, people need reservations and the bar fills up fast,” Steel said. “It’s been a really positive start.”
Sustainability is Key
While many of Pittsburgh’s river towns have had a difficult time transitioning away from manufacturing, Etna has reinvented itself in a most positive way. Following historic flooding caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the borough undertook a number of initiatives that included the implementation of green streetscapes, development of Etna Riverfront Park, and the establishment of the Etna Center for Community. The borough became the world’s first certified eco-district in 2019 and has been recognized for its innovative work in green infrastructure and sustainable redevelopment.
In addition to a very walkable downtown, the borough is also home to numerous trails, including the Riverfront Trail, which connects riverfront parks in Millvale, North Shore, Sharpsburg and Aspinwall. In addition to hiking the Dougherty Nature Trail, a variety of urban trails are also available and include everything from the Wake Up Loop to the Hops-and-Barley Loop to the Heart Stopper Loop and Draggin Bottom Loop (for those looking for more of a challenge).
Locals also recommended stopping into their favorite spots, which include Porky’s Bar and Grill, Rear End Gastropub & Garage, Cop Out Pierogies, Rising Crust Pizza, the Etna pool (in summer) and more.
“It’s just a really great community,” said Cincotta. “It’s easy to socialize and make friends here, and it’s extremely family-friendly. It’s a community center more than anything.”
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