The Mayor Cuts the Vine!

Written By Scott Simmons

Most restaurants get a ribbon. Spork Island got a vine.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor stopped by 946 Penn Avenue to make it official. Waiting for him at the front door: co-owners Steve Zumoff (pith helmet, naturally) and Andy Tepper, and a garland of tropical greenery, sunflowers and red gerbera daisies strung across the entrance where a ribbon would normally go.

The mayor was handed a pair of loppers instead of oversized scissors. One snip, and Spork Island Trading Company was officially open for business.

Once the vine was down, the owners walked the mayor through the space that took over the old August Henry's Burger Bar: the eight-foot volcano at the entrance to Volcano Village, the thatched huts, the jungle pathways and the private booths tucked into the walls.

Meet the people behind the island

Steve Zumoff has spent more than three decades giving Pittsburgh places to hang out that look like nowhere else. He co-founded the Beehive Coffeehouse & Dessertery on the South Side in the early '90s, a beloved Gen X hangout, and went on to build Double Wide Grill, famous for its hubcaps, beer-bottle chandeliers and the 1951 International Harvester truck in the dining room. His East Carson Street bars, Rowdy Buck, Lava Lounge and Tiki Lounge, made him one of the South Side's great builders of themed spaces. Spork Island is the biggest swing yet.

Andy Tepper is the force behind Spork in Garfield, the restaurant whose fine-dining-but-make-it-fun attitude carries straight through to Spork Island's kitchen. He and Steve have known each other since the early 1990s.

Spork Island was first planned for the former Double Wide Grill building on East Carson Street. It found its home Downtown instead, in the heart of the Cultural District, and opened in late July 2026.

Come see it for yourself

Spork Island Trading Company is at 946 Penn Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Doors open at 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome, and groups can reserve a booth. Parking tips are on our Parking page. 21+. Our schedule is subject to change, so always check our website before planning a visit.

The vine has been cut. The island is open.

Photos: Needs More Fog

Scott Simmons

Since 1999, Scott Simmons has helped create nationally recognized haunted attractions, escape rooms, theatrical experiences, themed environments, and immersive entertainment projects designed to surprise, engage, and leave a lasting impression.

Best known for his work as Creative and Marketing Director for ScareHouse — one of America’s most acclaimed haunted attractions — and the groundbreaking immersive experience The Basement, Scott now leads Needs More Fog, a creative studio specializing in cinematic video production, immersive storytelling, experiential design, social media strategy, and SEO optimization for experience-driven brands.

Over the past two decades, Scott and his collaborators have developed immersive attractions, escape rooms, and live experiences featured on Good Morning America, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Travel Channel, and The Daily Show, while earning praise from acclaimed filmmakers including Guillermo del Toro, Michael Dougherty, and Elijah Wood. His team also collaborated with Universal Pictures, Legendary Entertainment, and Weta Workshop to create the world’s first immersive experience inspired by Krampus.

Beyond haunted attractions, Scott has overseen the concept, design, production, and marketing of escape rooms, special events, theatrical productions, and themed environments — including the creative reimagining of The Old Mill at Kennywood.

Today, through Needs More Fog, Scott helps attractions, museums, entertainment brands, hospitality companies, and immersive experiences strengthen audience engagement through video production, content strategy, SEO, social media management, and experiential storytelling.

His creative content — including trailers, behind-the-scenes videos, and social campaigns — has generated more than eight million views, while his speaking appearances often explore immersive design, attraction marketing, digital content creation, generative AI, and occasionally, murderous bunnies with axes.

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