Spotlight On Main Street | Nakama Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

Help save history in your community by restoring and reusing historic buildings.

“It's old, but it looks new.” --student quote

Nakama Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar: 1611 East Carson Street; Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Date and Style: Built around 1900; --American Renaissance style; This is a simple, commercial building. Notice the decorative stone trim surrounding the windows, the decorative brickwork, and the projecting cornice ornamented with dentils and modillions. The angled front was redone in the 1920s.; Facade improvements funded through the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Streetface Program

In 1901 Lorch & Brothers Dry Goods (a department store) was located here (see advertisement below).
On April 29, 1901, Lorch Brothers Store was destroyed by fire. Also destroyed that day was a drugstore at 1601 East Carson Street, owned by B. J. Stenger; a saloon at 1605 East Carson Street, owned by John Donahue; a grocery at 1607, owned by John Nelson; a grocery at 1600, owned by Mrs. Patrick McGrath; and three homes on South 16th (81, 83 and 85), owned by Mrs. Sophia Miller.
This building later housed Autenreith's Dollar Stores, where you could buy candy, household items, and many other things (see advertisement below).
Alvin's bowling alley and an arcade were located on the second floor.
Nakama Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar opened in 2003. Owners Joe Collincini and Becky Gomes worked with Three Rivers Restoration to turn the former Rite Aid space into an attractive restaurant.

“Nakama” means friend in Japanese.
On May 6, 2005, the Pittsburgh City Historic Review Commission gave Nakama's a preservation award for their excellent work in renovating 1611 East Carson Street.
17th Street Partners LLC is investing nearly $3 million to transform the upper stories of the building into a "boutique" hotel with 24 upscale hotel suites. (The upper floors have not been occupied since the 1970s.) The suites will be outfitted with wet bars, flatscreen TVs, multihead showers, and Jacuzzis. Valet parking and separate meeting rooms will be offered too. Room rates will range from $179 to more than $350 per night, and even the smallest room will be larger than an average hotel room. The boutique hotel will open in 2007.