Forging relationships: Magarac, Iron Eden, John, and Jody

If you’ve ever noticed the whimsical iron swirls atop Bistro To Go Catering, you’ve caught a glimpse of the magic that John and Jody Walter bring to life in Pittsburgh. This creative duo is the force behind both Iron Eden and Magarac, a gallery and gathering space by Iron Eden.

John and Jody are both Pittsburgh natives—John from Bethel Park and Jody from Mt. Lebanon—though they spent many years away from the city. John served in the Merchant Marines and later lived on the West Coast, while Jody was in the D.C. area until the early ’90s. When John returned to Pittsburgh, he owned some properties on the Northside. With welding skills honed on ships, John began creating decorative iron window guards for his properties. Soon, neighbors were asking him to craft similar pieces for them, and his business, Iron Elegance Security Systems, was born. Over time, his ornamental ironwork business grew, expanding to include all kinds of furniture and home and garden accessories.

Meanwhile, Jody, who had been designing and making beaded jewelry while living in D.C., returned to Pittsburgh in 1994 to open a bead shop with her father. In addition to beads, the shop offered a wide variety of gift items and home goods. Eager to include ironwork in their inventory, Jody made several attempts to visit John’s gallery in Bloomfield. However, it was always closed. On her last attempt, she ventured up to the roof deck and was awestruck by the display of iron flowers and arbors. Through a glass door, she glimpsed an incredible loft apartment with iron spiral staircases—little did she know that she would be living there a few years later.

John and Jody finally met at a party at his gallery shortly after she moved back to Pittsburgh. The event marked the launch of John’s new gallery concept and the renaming of his business from Iron Elegance to Iron Eden. Jody was thrilled to finally see the space and after exchanging cards, they met up later to discuss featuring John’s work in her shop. They quickly hit it off, started dating, and eventually married in 2001. The couple lived in the loft for the first few years of their marriage, had their son Sailor in 2004, and then moved to Mt. Lebanon.

Iron Eden has been in business for over 40 years, specializing in all things iron for home and garden. Many of their pieces feature signature scrollwork and nature-inspired, organic designs. Over the years, John also amassed a collection of reclaimed industrial Pittsburgh steel, which he planned to use to create a new product line inspired by the urban legend of Joe Magarac, the Man of Steel. This vision culminated in the creation of Magarac, an industrial product line, and gallery.

As they were putting the Magarac gallery together, John and Jody realized that it was shaping up to be an incredible event space. They added a bar and began promoting it as a rental venue. The gallery is a unique space, filled with one-of-a-kind industrial furniture and exuding a great party vibe. It also tells a story about Pittsburgh’s steel industry—a story that many may not be familiar with. The venue can accommodate up to 95 people and is available for events like birthday celebrations, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, corporate gatherings, and more.

Interested in working with Magarac & Bistro? Contact us today and let’s begin!