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We’ve always thought Smiley Cookies were pretty cool, but now they have officially been named the “Coolest Thing Made in PA!” There were several intense rounds of voting in the PA Chamber of Business and Industry’s annual bracket-style competition, and we’re incredibly grateful for the passion and support of our community, who showed up and voted for Smiley Cookies to take home the title.  Share

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As our family restaurant continues to celebrate our 75th anniversary, check out what’s coming up in July as part of Eat'n Park’s “Summer of Smiles”!

Pittsburgh Zoo – Saturdays in July

Team Smiley will be on site at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Saturdays all July long with Smiley Cookies, activities, and more!

Heinz History Center – Kids' Day July 13 and 14

It’s Free Kids’ Day at the Heinz History Center on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, which means all kids aged 17 and under get free admission!

Lucky Row for Smiles at a Riverhounds Game

When you take the family to see the Riverhounds play at Highmark Stadium, you get a chance to sit in Eat’n Park’s Lucky Row for Smiles, where everyone in the row gets a Smiley Cookie!

Team Smiley at the Pirates Game – July 21

Team Smiley will be on Federal Street decorating cookies before the Pirates game on Sunday, July 21!

Find Smiley

Smiley will be sharing Smiles across the region this summer! Want to know where to find him? Follow him on our Find Smiley page.

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Eat’n Park Hospitality Group gives back to the community in many ways, and one of its longest-running partnerships is with UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation.  

Since 1979, Eat’n Park’s Caring for Kids’ campaign has raised more than $12 million for area children’s hospitals and features a unique intersection of team members and guests working together to raise money during the holiday season. 

“Eat’n Park is incredibly thoughtful and compassionate in the way they not only engage the community, but also in the way their team members embrace giving back,” says Rachel A. Petrucelli, President, UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation. “Because Eat'n Park invests in and empowers their teams, their people take great ownership in the Caring for Kids campaign, which extends far beyond financial contributions. Eat’n Park’s commitment to both fundraising and community service creates a powerful force for positive change, touching lives in a multitude of ways.” 

The money Caring for Kids raises benefits patients and their families every day, channeling the funds into vital healthcare initiatives, including free and uncompensated care to families in need. But Petrucelli says it’s more than just raising money that makes Eat’n Park a special organization to work with.  

“Eat’n Park’s active involvement with guests and community members fosters a sense of togetherness. Through events, fundraisers, and volunteering efforts, they create a network of support that transcends monetary contributions. Families, loyal customers, and community members actively participate, feeling empowered to make a difference, together.” 

In 2009, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group took their relationship with UPMC Children’s Hospital to the next level with the construction of the Eat’n Park Atrium on the 6th floor of UPMC Children’s. 

“The Eat’n Park Atrium serves as host to everything from celebrity and athlete visits, to trick-or-treat activities, to blood drives and the annual KDKA Free Care Fund Telethon. Because of Eat’n Park and the Caring for Kids campaign, the Atrium provides space for kids to truly feel like kids, despite being inside a hospital.” 

Petrucelli says that UPMC Children’s has been a fortunate beneficiary of the exemplary culture of philanthropy created by Suzy and Jim Broadhurst, a legacy that is carried forward by their children, Chairman and CEO Jeff Broadhurst, Vice President of Food Systems Transportation Brooks Broadhurst, and President and COO of the Parkhurst Division Mark Broadhurst.  

“It is their leadership that has prioritized community partnerships like the one they hold with us, and the other charities they support. Their kindness has helped inspire others and provided life-saving care for our kids. We are honored to be a recipient of their unyielding compassion. The commitment to serving kids in our community runs deep for the Broadhurst family and the Foundation, and UPMC Children’s has certainly benefited.” 

There are many reasons why UPMC Children’s Hospital is a top healthcare facility, and Petrucelli believes one of them has to do with their partnership with Eat’n Park.  

“Because of committed friends like Eat’n Park, UPMC Children’s has been able to maintain its position as a top 10 children’s hospital, providing life-saving care to more than 1.5 million children from all over the nation and the world. What a gift to have such industry-leading care for our kids in our own backyard.” 

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Did you know Eat’n Park’s relationship with United Way dates back nearly three decades?  

“Jim and Suzy [Broadhurst] served as United Way campaign chairs in the ‘90s, and that was just the beginning of a relationship that has had such a positive impact on our region,” says Bobbi Watt Geer, PhD, President & CEO, United Way of Southwestern PA. 

At Eat’n Park, “Creating a Smile” means more than just a dining experience. It’s having an impact in the community in areas like food insecurity and helping families meet their basic needs every day, like through United Way’s 24/7/365 human services referral system, 211.  

“A good partner is one who is consistently present and supportive in the ways the moment calls for,” continues Watt Geer. “When I consider the many ways Eat'n Park has worked with United Way to better serve the community, I am struck by the consistency, legacy, and commitment to creating and expanding goodness in people's lives.” 

While Eat’n Park and United Way have been great partners for many years, the pandemic highlighted the importance of this connection and how it can directly impact local lives. As the United Way was faced with unanticipated urgent issues, one that quickly emerged was how students were going to access food without school breakfasts and lunches, and Eat’n Park had a solution.  

“Brooks Broadhurst and the team at Eat'n Park were already thinking about this issue when they approached PNC Foundation and United Way to develop a network that would deliver meals to families,” said Watt Geer. “This idea blossomed into the Student and Family Food Program that engaged Eat'n Park and a number of other foodservice providers to deliver more than 1.5 million meals over the first two years of the pandemic. That's being a good neighbor and playing your part in making the region a better place to live."

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This July, go wild for Smiles at the Pittsburgh Zoo! All month long, we’re celebrating Eat’n Park Family Month! All kids who visit the zoo in July will receive a coupon for a free Eat’n Park kids’ meal! It’s something the whole family can enjoy! 

Plus, on Smiley Saturdays in July, Smiley himself will be at the zoo from 10AM-3PM, where he’ll be taking photos and handing out Smiley Cookies! 

We hope to see you this July at the Pittsburgh Zoo for Eat’n Park Family Month! 

Click here for tickets! 

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There are many holidays throughout the year, but one that’s close to our heart is Veterans Day on November 11. We extend our sincerest gratitude to all veterans and current military personnel for their continued dedication and sacrifice to serve our country. To show our appreciation, all former and current military personnel will receive 10% off for themselves and their entire party each time they dine in—for the entire month of November! 

Proof of service is required for this discount, so please be prepared to show your Military ID or your Veteran Designation on your driver’s license. We will also extend this promotion to service members who arrive in uniform. The 10% discount will be applied to all meals on the check, so our veterans and active duty service members are welcome to bring their families to dine with them. While this offer cannot be combined with any other coupon offer or discount, it can be used in combination with our free coffee for voters on Election Day on Tuesday, November 8 and free Smiley Cookie for veterans on Veterans Day on Friday, November 11.  

This offer is valid for dine-in only November 1-30, 2022.

Free Smiley Cookie for Veterans! 
All veterans who visit us on Veterans Day (November 11) will ALSO receive a free Smiley Cookie on us! This gesture of sharing a Smile is just a small token of gratitude to our veterans and current military personnel for their selfless service to our country.  

Meet our Team Member Veterans!  
Many veterans are also Eat’n Park team members! We would like to introduce you to just a few of the veterans you may encounter at our restaurants. We’re so appreciative of  their service to our country as well as their ability to create Smiles for our guests every day! 

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Caring about people is one of our core values here at Eat’n Park. During these difficult times, it’s more important now than ever to lend a helping hand to our neighbors. That’s why we are so thankful that we had the opportunity to hold our 6th Annual Day of Smiles, an entire day dedicated to giving back to our local community.

Team members from across Eat’n Park Hospitality Group came together to roll up their sleeves and complete a variety of service projects for our friends at…

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

East End Cooperative Ministry

Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship and Veterans Home

WHY WE VOLUNTEER

Giving back to our community is in our DNA, but we wanted to know – why? Meet a few of our many passionate team members and learn why volunteering is important to them!

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Now more than ever, our neighbors need our help, especially our friends at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. They are faced with a real challenge – and that’s providing access to enough food for our communities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Since it’s a longstanding tradition that Pittsburghers stick together, we’re lending a hand and we need your help…

Now through April 2, we will be donating $5 to the food bank from every $20+ online takeout order that uses the coupon code “FOODBANK” at checkout.

Every $5 donation helps to provide 25 meals for our neighbors who need them most. In addition to their main operation in Duquesne, the Pittsburgh Food Bank also distributes food to small community agencies around the region – allowing them to help as many people as possible in the weeks ahead.

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The results are in! Our team members have wrapped up our 41st annual Caring for Kids campaign, with results that are nothing short of amazing.

In a mere five weeks, we've raised...

No words can express our gratitude to all of the guests and team members who opened their wallets and their hearts for such a great cause. This campaign truly makes a difference in the lives of local children who are being treated at these hospitals.

The following hospitals across our entire company benefited from this year’s campaign:

• Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley
• Arnot Ogden Medical Center
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation
• Comer Children’s Hospital
• Dayton Children's Hospital
• Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State
• Geisinger Health System
• Indiana Regional Medical Center
• Johns Hopkins Children's Center
• Penn Highlands Healthcare
• Saint Vincent Health System
• Toledo Children’s Hospital 
• University of Virginia Children's Hospital
• West Virginia University Children's Hospital

Of course, Caring for Kids wouldn’t be nearly so successful without the generous contributions of our partners. Neighborhood Ford Store once again donated a vehicle – a 2019 Ford Ranger –that was raffled off to one lucky winner…

Roger M. of Clymer, PA, got a special holiday surprise on Wednesday when his ticket was drawn by Josh, a patient at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Congratulations, Roger!

We would also like to thank our partner, Nestlé Professional Vitality, who made a significant contribution to this year’s campaign.

Thank you again for your support!

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Two years ago, we decided to expand our philanthropic efforts at Eat’n Park Hospitality Group to better support our veterans and their families. We knew this was a cause that was important to both our team members and our guests – so we em”barked” on a journey with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs (GAMSD) and sponsored the training of Parker, a service dog that would ultimately be paired with a veteran in our region!


Since the start of Parker’s journey two years ago, she’s gone through extensive training – from learning how to interact with children and adults, mastering basic commands, recognizing increased anxiety, and sensing nightmares, she’s been preparing to save and change a life.

We’re proud to announce that Parker now has a new leash on life with a local veteran in Western PA. But it’s not just Parker who has a new leash on life – it’s also our recipient. Check out Parker’s full journey in the video below!

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Go wild for smiles this July during Eat’n Park Family Month at the Pittsburgh Zoo! In addition to enjoying music, crafts, and all your favorite animals, all kids who visit the zoo during family month will receive a free kids’ meal coupon for Eat’n Park. It’s a summer activity that’s fun for the whole family!
Smiley himself will be at the zoo every Saturday in July for Smiley Saturdays! He and his friends, Team Smiley, will be arriving in style via their Cookie Cruiser to take photos and decorate Smiley Cookies!

We hope to see you there!

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Giving back to our communities is one of the fundamental pillars of our company culture. We know the importance and value of taking care of people both inside and outside our restaurants.

Many of our team members are active volunteers in their neighborhoods, and we do what we can to support them in those endeavors. Every year, we recognize those who have gone above and beyond by generously giving their time and energy to support causes in their local communities.

Out of all of our team members who volunteered over 37,000 hours of their time in 2018, we’re proud to announce that this year’s Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Volunteer of the Year is Kayla Frattini!
Our Eat’n Park Hospitality Group CEO, Jeff Broadhurst, with our 2019 Volunteer of the Year winner, Kayla Frattini.

Kayla, our Hello Bistro Marketing Manager, spends most of her volunteer life investing in two separate organizations. The first is the Miracle League of the South Hills, which gives kids and adults with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball. Kayla coaches two Miracle League teams – an adult team and a youth team. Because she spends so much time with the athletes, she has developed really close bonds with many of them. One even recently asked her to his high school prom!

Kayla’s second passion project is with Team PHenomenal Hope, an organization that raises funds and awareness for a rare medical condition called Pulmonary Hypertension. Over the last few years, Kayla has gradually increased her level of involvement in the organization’s annual 5K fundraiser from participant to now serving as the Race Director for the second year in a row. Kayla’s favorite part about volunteering, and probably the core reason that she dedicates so many hours to service, is that she is helping to build a community of inclusivity.

On Kayla’s behalf, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group will be donating $1,000 to the Miracle League of the South Hills.

Please join us in congratulating Kayla and our other finalists for their extensive efforts in the community!

Pictured above are our 2019 Volunteer of the Year finalists:

From Left to Right: Aubriana Henry (Indiana Eat’n Park), Joel Grimm (Clarion Eat’n Park), Autumn Grimm (Clarion Eat’n Park), Michael Riek (Somerset Eat’n Park), Kayla Frattini (Winner - Corporate Support Center), Heather Hibala (Corporate Support Center), Regina Diana (Avalon Eat’n Park) Not pictured: Magail Heaps (Greensburg Eat’n Park)

Click here to learn about all of our finalists!


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Giving back to our community is in our DNA. On April 2nd, we held our 4th Annual Day of Smiles, an event that gathered over 150 of our team members to volunteer at 11 different community service projects around Pittsburgh.

As a company, we invest at least 5% of our pre-tax earnings to support nonprofit organizations – and though we support a wide variety of causes, we focus our efforts on three areas:  Sharing Smiles, Growing Smiles, and Hero Smiles. Click here to read more about each.

On Day of Smiles, four of our service projects were focused on “Hero Smiles” with the goal of enhancing the lives of military veterans and their families. Read on to learn more about these volunteer projects!

Fisher House
One of our teams made the trip to the Fisher House, located in Oakland, to prepare a tasty lunch for guests and their families. Since 2012, the Fisher House has been providing a "home away from home" for the families of Veterans and active duty military who are hospitalized. The home, with its 10 suites, allows families to be near their loved one while enjoying a place of peace and respite for themselves. Families stay for free, lifting their financial burden and allowing them to focus on their patient.
Veterans Leadership Program
A few of our volunteers teamed up with Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania for some painting projects around the office to make it extra inviting for the Veterans being provided with services there. VLP provides many services to eligible local veterans, service members, and their families including housing, employment, and other vital support services with the goal of improving their self-sufficiency, sustainability, and quality of life.
VA Hospital
This crew of volunteers assembled care package kits, which were then distributed to well-deserving veterans receiving medical care at the VA Hospital in Oakland. Some veterans stay at the hospital for extended periods of time, so the kits were full of supplies that they may not have had the opportunity to pick up for themselves.
Shepherd's Heart Fellowship & Veterans Home
Our last group of volunteers were hard at work completing various tasks at Shepherd's Heart. They restocked and organized the pantry, and did some landscaping. Shepherd's Heart provides transitional housing for Veterans, as well as meals and a place to shower and do laundry for the homeless.
Check out our other blogs in this series to learn about our community projects for Growing Smiles and Sharing Smiles.

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Our nickname may be “The Place for Smiles” but we also love creating smiles within our community. On April 2nd, we held our 4th Annual Day of Smiles, an event that gathered over 150 of our team members to volunteer at 11 different community service projects throughout the city.

As a company, we invest at least 5% of our pre-tax earnings to support nonprofit organizations – and though we support a wide variety of causes, we focus our efforts on three areas:  Sharing Smiles, Growing Smiles, and Hero Smiles. Click here to read more about each.

On Day of Smiles, four of our service projects were focused on “Sharing Smiles” by supporting family wellness and fitness. Read on to learn about how our team spent their day!

First Tee of Pittsburgh
Fore! One of our volunteer teams helped to beautify the golf course at The First Tee of Pittsburgh, an organization that helps to build character, instills life-enhancing values, and promotes healthy choices to young people through the game of golf.

Sarah Heinz House 
Another one of our volunteer teams headed to the Sarah Heinz House, where they helped to clean and spruce up the campus for the spring season! With a focus on character, service, and leadership, Sarah Heinz House provides enriching programs where kids learn to make healthy choices while participating in fun, challenging activities.

Best of the Batch
A team of our volunteers visited Munhall to help the Best of the Batch Foundation, which was established by former Steeler, Charlie Batch. They helped to put together hygiene kits for kids in the after-school program!

Camp Guyasuta
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It’s not a secret that we love giving back to our communities. On April 2nd, we held our 4th Annual Day of Smiles, an event that gathered over 150 of our team members to volunteer at 11 different community service projects throughout the city.

As a company, we invest at least 5% of our pre-tax earnings to support nonprofit organizations – and though we support a wide variety of causes, we focus our efforts on three areas:  Sharing Smiles, Growing Smiles, and Hero Smiles. Click here to read more about each.

On Day of Smiles, 3 of our service projects centered around the theme of “Growing Smiles” and providing access to healthy food and education about food choices. Read on to learn more about these great projects!

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
One group of volunteers headed to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne to help repack food for those in need. The Food Bank distributes 2.2 million pounds of groceries a month – a feat that could never be accomplished without the hard work of volunteers!

Hilltop Urban Farms
Our volunteers at Hilltop Urban Farms helped to prep the land for its summer harvest, which will provide fresh, healthy food to the community! This nonprofit, community-centered farm is located on 107 acres of land – with 23 acres dedicated to farming. It will produce locally-grown crops, provide agriculture-based education, generate entrepreneurial opportunities, and strengthen the Hilltop community!
Braddock Farms
Another group went to volunteer at Grow Pittsburgh’s Braddock Farms location. Braddock is a food desert and this farm is the community’s single source of fresh produce during the growing season. By the end of the day, our team were weeding and planting experts!

Check out our other blogs in this series to learn about our community projects for Sharing Smiles and Hero Smiles.

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Giving back to our communities is one of the fundamental pillars of our company culture. Many of our team members are active volunteers in their neighborhoods and we strive to recognize those who have gone above and beyond by generously giving their time and energy to support causes in their local communities.

Read on to learn about our 2019 Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Volunteer of the Year Finalists, who were nominated by either their managers or colleagues. Keep an eye on our blog for the announcement of our winner next week!

Magail Heaps - Greensburg
Magail maintains a busy lifestyle that includes working both a full-time and a part-time job, while also pursuing her degree. She refuses to let the constraints of her busy schedule stand in the way of her passion for community service, and she volunteers her time whenever she can. Currently, most of her volunteer hours are spent coaching a soccer league for young children and caring for animals every week at her local shelter.

Regina “Jean” Diana - Avalon
Jean believes everyone has a responsibility to lend a hand when someone is in need. She takes that call to action very seriously in her own life and it’s why she dedicates so much of her time to volunteer work. She serves countless hours at her church as well as at her local food bank. Her commitment as a greeter at the Avalon Eat’n Park echoes her servant spirit in the community. In all arenas of her life, she is eager to make the people she interacts with feel welcomed and cared for.

Kayla Frattini – Corporate Support Center
Kayla’s willingness to donate her time and lend her enthusiasm can be seen in many facets of her life. Most notably she volunteers for the Miracle League of the South Hills, where she is the coach of two special needs baseball teams, and Team Phenomenal Hope, where she is instrumental in fundraising for pulmonary hypertension research. There are many reasons why Kayla volunteers, but one of the largest is her desire to help build a community of inclusivity.

Autumn and Joel Grimm - Clarion
Autumn and Joel, a husband-wife duo, are being honored as a joint Finalist. Together, they volunteer tirelessly alongside each other at their church and helping seniors in their community with transportation and food needs. In 2018, they each reported almost 1,000 hours of service. Working as a pair on volunteer projects allows them to accomplish far more that they’d be able to do independently.

Aubriana Henry - Indiana 
Aubriana loves to make people smile and she has the opportunity to do that while working at her restaurant and while volunteering in her community. In 2018, she committed hundreds of hours to service split across several different projects: volunteering abroad on church mission trips, assisting at a special needs prom, and serving as a counselor at a summer camp for kids, just to name a few. She also is heavily involved in her restaurant’s Caring for Kids campaign.

Heather Hibala – Corporate Support Center
The desire to serve others is deeply rooted in Heather’s being. She spends much of her time at work as an administrative assistant focused on the needs of others. The same is true in her personal life, where she is a “Big Sister” to a middle school student enrolled in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, volunteers regularly with a non-profit that supports kids with cancer, and has served impoverished nations while abroad on several mission trips. Heather was nominated by her colleague, Trice Micheals.

Michael Riek - Somerset 
When he’s not managing his restaurant, Michael spends much of his free time giving back. Whether he’s building props for plays at church or volunteering at local concession stands, he is committed to his community and to encouraging others to join him. One of his biggest volunteer accomplishments in 2018 was reestablishing his restaurant’s day of service. He led a group of team members to refresh cabins at a camp for special needs children and adults.

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It’s officially been one year since we’ve started our partnership with Guardian Angels Service Dogs and our sponsorship of a soon-to-be service dog!


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Enhancing the lives of our military, veterans and their families is one of the three focus areas of our philanthropic efforts. In addition to supporting various organizations dedicated to serving veterans, all November long, former and current military members will receive 10% off for themselves and their entire party each visit (dine-in only).


Proof of service is required for this discount, so please be prepared to show your Military ID or your Veteran Designation on your driver’s license. We will also extend this promotion to service members who arrive in uniform. The discount will be applied to any meals on the same check.

While this offer cannot be combined with any other coupon offer or discount, it can be used with our free coffee promotion for voters on Election Day on Tuesday, November 6. It’s also not available for takeout.

Parker, a Soon-To-Be Service Dog



One year ago, we announced our partnership with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs and our sponsorship of a soon-to-be service dog, who will be paired with a local veteran after her training is complete. Service dogs help to mitigate the challenges many veterans face, including PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, glucose imbalance, mobility issues, and more.

To help celebrate the newest member of our Eat'n Park family, we asked our team members to help us name her! Over 200 suggestions were submitted, but we just still couldn’t decide. So, we asked our Facebook family, and after 3,500 votes, our new furry friend was named Parker!

Learn more about Parker and her ongoing training.

Our sincere thanks to veterans for their selfless service to our country.

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Parker, our soon-to-be service dog, has been hard at work training with our friends at Guardian Angels Service Dogs! Once her training is complete, Parker will support a veteran in need! Read on to learn the latest on Parker's journey.


Parker has spent the last 6 weeks with her new foster family. She has mastered all of her basic commands and is very responsive in both the home environment and out in the public. Parker has already put her training into action when she gave an alert for an oncoming anxiety attack for someone with high functioning autism who was visiting her family at the time. She is a sweet dog who loves to play and is eager to learn more every day!

To learn more about our sponsorship of Parker, click here.
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In November of last year, we announced our partnership with Guardian Angels Service Dogs and our sponsorship of Parker, a service dog in training who will one day support a veteran in need! Read on to learn about the latest updates on Parker's training.


Parker is now 11 months old and weighs 65 pounds! She has mastered her basic commands and is learning more every day from her trainers. Her favorite activities include car rides and lounging anywhere she can, including a table in the play yard! Parker’s personality is very laid back and she is nice and loving to all she meets!

To learn more about our sponsorship of Parker, click here.

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