The Downtowner: 2025 Year in Review

In 2025, The Downtowner wasn’t just a newsletter — it was a weekly pulse check on Downtown Pittsburgh.

We published 474 articles this year. That’s nearly 1.3 articles every day, delivered every Tuesday at 9 AM, 52 weeks a year, without missing a beat. Week after week, we brought Downtown news, events, food, arts, and local stories straight to inboxes across the city.

And people were reading.

Our average open rate hit 47%, significantly outperforming the industry average of 33%. In a crowded inbox world, that level of engagement shows real trust and interest from our readers.

What We Covered

Our content reflected the many layers of Downtown life:

• Events & Festivals – 29.0%
  From major festivals to neighborhood gatherings, this was our largest category — keeping readers informed about what’s happening and when.

• Food & Dining – 21.7%
  Restaurant guides, best dishes, openings, closings, and crowd favorites — Downtown eats remain a top draw.

• Arts & Culture – 13.6%
  Theater, music, performances, and creative programming took center stage throughout the year.

• Community & Lifestyle – 11.8%
  Walking clubs, dog parks, safety updates, and everyday Downtown living.

• Profiles & Spotlights – 7.2%
  Highlighting the people who make Downtown what it is — artists, chefs, business owners, and leaders.

• Surveys, Feedback & Recaps – 5.0%
  Listening to residents and closing the loop after events.

• Tours & Guides – 3.6%
  Curated ways to explore Downtown.

• Miscellaneous & Unique – 4.5%
  Development updates, policy news, and emerging topics shaping the city.

Beyond Articles: Community Engagement

In 2025, The Downtowner became more interactive than ever:

1. Best Restaurant Vote
   We hosted our most popular reader-driven feature yet, inviting the community to vote for their favorite Downtown restaurants.

2. Downtown Voices
   We actively collected photos, suggestions, and survey responses from Downtown residents — making the newsletter a two-way conversation.

3. A New Look & Smarter Format
   This year, we redesigned the newsletter email format to be more modern, visual, and easier to navigate. We also introduced new Downtown-focused tabs, including traffic and practical city updates, making the newsletter not just inspiring, but useful.

Looking Ahead

In 2025, The Downtowner proved that consistent storytelling, strong visuals, and real community input matter. As we head into 2026, we’re continuing to refine, expand, and listen — keeping Downtown Pittsburgh connected, informed, and engaged.

📬 Subscribe to The Downtowner and stay connected to everything Downtown has to offer.