BEECHVIEW, September 13, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana culminated several years worth of work with today’s announcement that the Market on Broadway IGA will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow, September 14th, at 9:00 a.m. and invited the community to join him in the celebration.
“I invite Beechview residents to join me tomorrow morning in acknowledging and celebrating this community achievement – the grand opening of the new grocery store in Beechview,” said Fontana. “This accomplishment was made possible through the cooperation that I received from Mayor Ravenstahl and the Urban Redevelopment Authority and our private partner, IGA. I am thrilled to see this project finally come to fruition and cannot wait to celebrate it with Beechview.”
Fontana first started working on efforts to keep a grocery store in Beechview when the prior tenant expressed concerns with their longevity. When the decision was made to close that store, Senator Fontana quickly moved to meet with potential grocers along with representatives of the Mayor’s Office and the URA. Those discussions were positive and productive in their early stages and allowed the partners to announce an agreement in August of last year.
Since then, contractors have removed the old cases and equipment, demolished the building out to its original shell, added new restrooms and accessibility features, rehabbed and, in some cases, replaced plumbing and refrigeration, replaced the roof and made numerous other improvements. These changes and improvements show the “hometown pride” that IGA has in this locally-owned, distinctively unique store, and its future in Beechview.
“Pittsburgh’s Third Renaissance focuses beyond downtown’s borders and into our City’s neighborhoods unlike any other has in the past,” said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. “A big part of this ‘renaissance of neighborhoods’ is supporting community business districts like Beechview’s. The revival of a quality grocery store will not only help to reinvigorate the neighborhood by creating jobs and filling a hole in the business district, it will also provide residents much needed access to fresh food.”
“Great things happen in our neighborhoods when everyone can work together for the common good of the community. I am proud that my working relationship with the Mayor and the URA allowed us to secure a commitment from the IGA and want to congratulate Ron Levick and Wayne Hancock of the Market on Broadway IGA on this milestone and wish them continued success,” said Fontana. “This is an important project that has the ability to serve as a catalyst for the Beechview business district. The opening of the IGA provides many opportunities for Beechview and I look forward to working together with these partners and the community to reinvigorate the neighborhood.”
Fontana grew up in Beechview in the 1950s and says there was always a grocery store serving the community. For the past year, the neighborhood has been clamoring for a new grocery store which bodes well for the Market on Broadway. The community support will be vital to the success of the store and the revitalization of the business district.
The Market on Broadway IGA is located at 1616 Broadway Avenue in Beechview. Senator Fontana, Mayor Ravenstahl and IGA store representatives, Ron Levick and Wayne Hancock, will all be on hand to celebrate the 9 a.m. grand opening. The first 100 residents to visit the store will receive a complimentary gift!
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