Owners - Tom & Becky Piscitella
History
The Windber Hotel (originally the Leister Hotel) was built in 1897. It is one of two remaining hotels out of the original eleven that stood in this quaint coal-mining town. Early on it served as temporary housing for miners who came to work at the Berwind White Coal Company. It housed a gentlemen's bar upstairs and a miner's bar in the basement. Men would come out of the mines with their coal-covered faces and go directly into the miner's bar for drinks. It was a speakeasy and brothel during prohibition, a makeshift hospital during a TB outbreak, and a hometown gathering place over the decades that followed.
In 2005, Tom & Becky Piscitella and Scott Penrod bought this historic hotel, bar, and restaurant. At the time, many thought the building was beyond rescue. It took over two years to restore and the Windber Hotel reopened in November of 2007. The bar and restaurant was forced to temporarily close in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The continued support of the community through take-out orders during this time helped keep the business open. In May of 2021, Tom & Becky bought out Scott so he could fly south into retirement. We all wish him well.
Today the Windber Hotel continues to be a family-friendly hub for casual dining, small celebrations, live music, meeting friends, and drinking excellent craft brews. We hope you love it as much as we do.
Pictured Above (Tom & Becky Piscitella)
In 2005, Tom & Becky Piscitella and Scott Penrod bought this historic hotel, bar, and restaurant. At the time, many thought the building was beyond rescue. It took over two years to restore and the Windber Hotel reopened in November of 2007. The bar and restaurant was forced to temporarily close in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The continued support of the community through take-out orders during this time helped keep the business open. In May of 2021, Tom & Becky bought out Scott so he could fly south into retirement. We all wish him well.
Today the Windber Hotel continues to be a family-friendly hub for casual dining, small celebrations, live music, meeting friends, and drinking excellent craft brews. We hope you love it as much as we do.
Pictured Above (Tom & Becky Piscitella)
