First Posted: 5/23/2013
Cuz’s Susquehanna Avenue Bar & Grille in Exeter had been operational less than two years when the Pittsburgh Steelers-themed business owned by Francesco Stuppino and Maureen Noone was destroyed by fire on April 30, 2012.
A gleaming new Steelers bar opened Thursday, May 9 next door to the fire site.
Though among the memorabilia lost in the fire were autographed photos and jerseys of former Steelers Jerome Bettis, Jack Ham, “Mean” Joe Greene and Rod Woodson, Western PA native Joe Montana and the late Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente, Stuppino, with the help of the Steelers’ largest fan club, the Steel City Mafia, has rebuilt his memorabilia collection.
Among the displays are three seats from the Steelers’ old home, Three Rivers Stadium; one of 53 lockers from the vistors’ locker room with game-worn jerseys hanging inside; one of six commemorative Super Bowl helmets signed by Ben Roethlisberger; a Heinz Ward autographed jersey – and that’s just the tip of a black and gold iceberg.
Most of the art, including the Steeler swirl motif on the outside wall and the Pittsburgh skylines inside the rest rooms, were created by Pittston artist Bob “Stretch” Lewis.
Stuppino and Noone scheduled two grand opening during the weekends of May 17, 18 and 19 and 24, 25, 26 with retired Steelers visiting. Retired Steelers Chris Hoke and Ronin Cole were at Cuz’s on May 17 whil Yancey Thigpen and J.T. Thomas were there on May 18 and Jason Gildon visited on May 19.
Greg LLoyd, Andy Russell and Louie Lipps were scheduled for Saturday and Dwayne Woodruff is expectred to be on hand today, May 26.