Brown Derby Restaurant

The Brown Derby was a popular restaurant located in the Monroeville Mall during the 1970s and 1980s, known for its prime location overlooking the mall's iconic indoor ice-skating rink. It belonged to the Girves Brown Derby chain, an Ohio-based steakhouse franchise separate from the famous hat-shaped Los Angeles restaurants.

History and Evolution

• The Pub (Pre-1975): Before becoming a Brown Derby, the space was a high-end restaurant called The Pub, managed by Tony D’Imperio.
• Some locals recall an even earlier iteration called Schrafft’s, which was considered a "high-end place with an expensive menu".
• Transition to Brown Derby: The restaurant according to the Pittsburgh Press ran the grand-opening ad announcing “The Famous Girves Brown Derby” at Monroeville Mall on August 12, 1975. It quickly became a staple for mall-goers, often featuring long lines of customers waiting for a table.
• Each Girves Brown Derby had a "Luv Pub" which was the bar associated with the restaurant. Some referring to the Luv Pub as "Love Pubs" where it was common for the Luv Pub to feature live music and entertainment.
• Prime Features: Its most memorable feature was the dining area with windows looking directly onto the Ice Palace skating rink on the mall's lower level. Patrons could watch skaters while eating popular dishes like Beef Wellington or visiting the salad bar, which famously featured a large block of cheese.
• Closure: The Brown Derby operated at the mall until at least 1987. It eventually closed as the mall underwent major changes, including the removal of the ice rink in 1984 to make way for a food court.

Girves Brown Derby was a steakhouse restaurant chain founded in 1941 in Akron, Ohio. The first Brown Derby was opened in 1941 located at 1157 East Market Street in Akron, Ohio across from the Goodyear tire plant. The idea was to provide an affordable and high quality steak dinner to those blue collar workers at the Goodyear plant. There were three shifts at Goodyear tire plant directing many hungry workers to the restaurant, allowing for this restaurant to thrive.

Girves opened his second restaurant in 1957 in Highland Square and franchised the business in 1962. This franchise chain was founded by Ted and Gus Girves, and the full name of these restaurants is "Girves Brown Derby". Girves Brown Derby currently has three active operating establishments in Ohio.