Pasadena Staple The Office Celebrates Six Years

“Where everybody knows your name.”

For many, the phrase draws to mind the ‘90s show “Cheers,” but the same sense of tight-knit community can be found on Mountain Road at The Office Bar & Grill.

“Everyone in here knows everybody, and if you don’t know somebody, you make friends very quickly,” said Sarah Root, general manager of The Office.

Though it’s her workplace, Root said she considers The Office to be her second home.

“Not only is it my job, but I care about the customers that come in here,” Root said. “I’ve made friends that I call family here. I think everyone feels that way, not just me.”

To prove her point, Root called over Chuck Hilditch, of Hilditch Electric, and posed the same question: What does The Office mean to him?

“Family,” Hilditch responded. “It’s a real blessing for me to be a part of.”

Hilditch, deeply rooted in The Office family, was around when the establishment was named. Whatever bar they were at, his friend would say they were “at the office.”

“It was an internal joke between friends, and it carried,” Root said.

Since its opening six years ago, The Office has undergone a few changes, mostly to its appearance. A new painting in the pool room reads “The Office Bar & Grill Since 2012” and resembles the Jack Daniels logo. The dining room area was knocked out to make the inside more spacious and open. The ceilings were raised, and the restaurant now boasts 21 TVs.

The Office will soon unveil its fourth menu. The newest menu will feature the original Pastore’s Pizza, which people have already started to buy, Root said.

“We’re just shrinking down a little bit because our current menu is so large,” Root said. “We’re putting some new menu items on and taking some things off that don’t sell.”

Now that football is back, most of the 21 TVs will be tuned to various football games. However, The Office draws more than Ravens and Redskins fans, Root said. People regularly ask for the Eagles, Cardinals, Bears and Panthers games, as well.

Other than a popular football watching spot, The Office is known around the community for its philanthropy. This year, The Office will hold its seventh annual toy run on Saturday, November 3. It’s also held fundraisers — Rockin’ for Ronnie, Dancing with Dennis, and Kisses for Kennady — for community members who have gotten sick.

“Everyone knows everyone, and everyone cares,” Root said. “We put a lot of time and effort into the planning, but it’s not successful without the community.”

The Office will celebrate its sixth birthday on October 14 with a big party. There will be birthday specials, and the Ravens game will be on.

“It’s going to be quite a party,” Root said.

The Office Bar & Grill is located at 2801 Mountain Road in Pasadena. It’s open from 11:00am-2:00am Monday through Saturday and from 11:00am-midnight on Sunday. For more information, call The Office at 410-255-6540 or visit www.officebargrill.com.