the build
Building Common Ground Kitchen & Taps in McMurray, PA
Something new is rising at 615 East McMurray Road. Common Ground Kitchen & Taps is under construction in the heart of Peters Township, and we are following it from the ground up. Here is how a cleared lot is becoming a neighborhood restaurant built for family dinner, date night, and easy nights out, with a wood-fired kitchen, a full bar, and room to gather.
Foundation
It Starts in the Ground
After the fire and the clearing of the old building, we were set to break ground. Then a foot of snow fell the morning of the groundbreaking, and the shovels waited a little longer. Once the ground thawed, the crew moved into overdrive. Underground pipework went in, the footers were set, and the first concrete was poured. None of it shows once the doors open, and all of it is what holds the building up.
Masonry
The Walls Take Shape
From there, the concrete block walls began to rise. Window openings were framed in, and the footprint started to read like a building instead of a plan on paper. You can already see where the dining room will open up and where the afternoon light will come through.
Delivery
The Heavy Materials Arrive
Then the structural materials started showing up. Precast concrete components came in by flatbed, staged and ready for the crew to set into place. Each delivery moved the build one step closer to a finished restaurant in McMurray.
Steel
Raising the Steel
With the walls in place, the heavy lifting began. A crane swung structural steel up and over the block walls, and the team guided each beam down into position between the lifts and ladders. Beam by beam, the frame of the building came together.
Roof
A Roof Overhead
Steel roof joists were set across the structure, spanning wall to wall. Standing inside and looking up at the framing, it finally read as a real room, one that will soon hold a wood-fired oven, a full bar, and tables full of neighbors.
Opening Winter 2026
Where Things Stand Now
The most recent work is happening inside, where crews are installing the insulated concrete forms for the walk-in coolers. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes infrastructure a scratch kitchen depends on. The build is on schedule, and the team is still aiming to open this winter, 2026. We cannot wait to serve Peters Township and McMurray. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest progress as the restaurant comes together.