A Convenient Concession Experience

GetGo Café + Market opens its first-ever arena store, teaming up with the Pittsburgh Penguins

By Danielle Romano

At a Glance

GetGo Café + Market

Size: 2,800 square feet Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh Unique features: The first GetGo Café + Market inside an arena; fresh made-toorder and grab-and-go items, including signature burgers, chicken sandwiches, subs and craveworthy appetizers; a variety of soda, bottled water, beer and spiked seltzer options AS TWO ICONIC Pittsburgh brands, Giant Eagle Inc. — the parent company of GetGo Café + Market convenience stores — and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been partners for many years. When the National Hockey League (NHL) team began thinking about reimagining the concession experience inside its PPG Paints Arena, exploring the idea of adding GetGo’s culinary-driven fresh food menu and convenient experience seemed a natural fit.

After 18 months of collaboration, GetGo opened its first-ever arena store. The GetGo Café + Market location inside PPG Paints Arena debuted on April 21, giving Penguins fans access to fresh made-toorder and grab-and-go items to fuel their cheers throughout the game.

“We have been partners and friends with the Pittsburgh Penguins for a number of years and we’re thrilled to bring together two iconic Pittsburgh brands to open our newest, one-of-a-kind GetGo experience in PPG Paints Arena,” Giant Eagle President and CEO Laura Karet said. “We provide high-quality, fresh, flavor-packed food and beverages. Convenience should never mean compromise and we couldn’t think of a better opportunity to bring fan favorites right to the fans!”

Located behind Section 116 on the FedEx Level of the arena, the 2,800-squarefoot store spans the combined spaces of three former concession stands. The store employs about a dozen employees, with a full kitchen and culinary staff ready to accommodate the hundreds of fans expected to come through the store on game days.

“The Penguins team was amazing to work with; they have the same approach to innovation, and focus on an outstanding customer experience as we do at GetGo,” the retailer’s Chief of Staff Rug Phatek told Convenience Store News. “Our design and culinary teams worked closely with the Penguins team to replicate both the visual and culinary experience of a GetGo inside PPG Arena.”

The fare available at the arena store includes many of GetGo’s signature items. Among them:

• The retailer’s famous buffalo tenders; • Signature burgers, chicken sandwiches, and subs like the Buffaloaded

“Our design and culinary teams worked closely with the Penguins team to replicate both the visual and culinary experience of a GetGo inside PPG Arena.”

— Rug Phatek, GetGo Café + Market

The 2,800-square-foot store spans the combined spaces of three former concession stands.

Buffalo Chicken Sub and Philly Cheesesteak sub; and • Crave-worthy appetizers, such as mozzarella sticks, mac & cheese wedges, tots, and buffalo cauliflower.

Sippable fare available includes a variety of soda, bottled water, beer, and spiked seltzers.

Arena-Sized Benefits

GetGo and the Penguins celebrated the opening of the arena store with a COVID-friendly launch party that was attended by executives of the Penguins and GetGo, as well as 30 Penguins and GetGo fans. The event also marked the debut of new GetGo mascot, Lil Tot.

“GetGo has become a pillar in the Pittsburgh community, and we are proud to partner with them to bring our vision of a one-stop shop to life at PPG Paints Arena,” said Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse. “It has been our goal to make guest experiences as safe and efficient as possible as fans return. GetGo brings a convenient experience with quality products that Pittsburgh fans already know and love.” The c-store chain’s partnership with the Penguins will extend beyond the new store in PPG Paints Arena, too. As the official Convenience Store of the Pittsburgh Penguins, GetGo will be featured on the NHL team’s social media, mobile app, in-game media, and Penguins Radio during games. Additionally, Penguins players and Iceburgh, the team mascot, will make appearances at GetGo grand openings and during special events.

Fans in the arena can win a free appetizer if the Penguins score a goal within the first five minutes of a game thanks to the kickoff of a new program, GetGo Great Start.

“Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania are passionate about the Penguins and love great food. We’re thrilled to be able to combine the two in our new location and look forward to an amazing partnership,” said Karet.

GetGo operates 266 locations throughout western Pennsylvania, Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. CSN

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