Westmoreland developments: 6 new businesses open doors
Aaron Allen could have opened his cigar business anywhere in Southwestern Pennsylvania. But in the Greensburg Salem graduate’s eyes, Humidor Cigars & Lounge only made sense in his hometown — Jeannette. “I truly believe in Jeannette and I truly believe in the people,” said Allen, 37. “By us in the...
Shady Ave Magazine to change ownership
Shady Ave Magazine, the highly regarded Pittsburgh-based lifestyle publication, has been acquired by Table Media Inc., officials announced Wednesday. Table Media is buying the publication from Trib Total Media, which has produced the magazine since May 2022. The transition to new ownership is expected to be completed by Dec. 1,...
So far, so good: Pittsburgh airport running smoothly, for now, as flight cuts take effect
Pittsburgh International Airport appeared to be running normally Friday as the Federal Aviation Administration began curtailing flights across the nation in response to the government shutdown. Jackie Ferguson, a customer assistance representative for American Airlines at the airport, said Pittsburgh might not be directly affected until the end of the...
Nearly 2,000 volunteers evaluate new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal
Renee Brawdy didn’t put a lot of thought into how she filled her suitcase before leaving her Baldwin home for Pittsburgh International Airport on Saturday morning. She didn’t even know where she’d be flying. Brawdy, 49, was one of nearly 2,000 people selected to participate in the airport’s second public...
Female business leaders share their stories at Women Shaping Our Region event
They are the Rosie the Riveters of today — strong women who, like the cultural female icon with the red-and-white bandana and arm flexed, are symbols of strength and resilience. Six women leaders in their fields took center stage at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh-Cranberry on Friday for the...
Dayton Freight shipping company to build depot off I-70 near Smithton
An Ohio-based freight company is moving into Westmoreland County and bringing at least 50 jobs with it. Dayton Freight finalized the purchase of 31.5 acres at the Interstate 70 Industrial Park in South Huntingdon, according to Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. officials. The company, through Stream’s Edge Properties, paid $1.7...
Tenant future clouded as Walmart plans demolition of Monroeville Mall site
Rick Murray would like to help Walmart pitch its vision of a mixed-use development on the site of the Monroeville Mall, because he thinks it could someday be a real asset to the community. The problem is, despite being a mall tenant, he has no idea what the future of...
Realtors, experts weigh in on Pittsburgh housing market for median income earners
Editor’s note: This is the first in an occasional series on real estate market trends in Western Pennsylvania. Ashlea Lee was tired of hunting for pet-friendly rental apartments for Reese, her 5-year-old golden retriever. The Westmoreland County native and Greensburg Central Catholic alumna knew what she wanted: a modest ranch,...
DEP gives preliminary nod to $10B Homer City plant, environmental group sounds alarm
State environmental regulators say they intend to approve an air quality plan for a proposed natural gas-fired power plant near Homer City, despite concerns from an environmental group that the facility would become the largest air polluter in Pennsylvania. The Department of Environmental Protection said the air quality plan submitted...
Greensburg, Hempfield area welcome mental health nonprofit, Fla. restaurant franchise, coffee shop
Former mental health counselor Stephen Kuniak is no stranger to parents who are concerned that their child plays too many hours of video games. Much to the surprise of most parents, Kuniak, a professor and Greensburg resident, believes video games can actually foster positive mental health among children — if...
Lawsuit alleges abuse of legal system in delayed Shadyside apartment project
An East End real estate developer is suing a Shadyside woman for abuse of the court system, alleging her appeal of a zoning decision delayed the construction of a 117-unit apartment project and cost them millions of dollars. Mozart Management filed the lawsuit in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on...
Greensburg, Hempfield see business changes on Pittsburgh Street
Jeannette resident Jim Bosco knew when he was in college he wanted to open a restaurant someday. That’s why his partner was shocked when Bosco, 55, decided to turn over the Greensburg building that housed his Major Stokes restaurant to neighboring Stone Bridge Brewing Co. after seven years in business....
Multiple Westmoreland communities say convention center would be a good fit
As feasibility studies for a convention center and hotel complex in Westmoreland County near completion, leaders from communities along Route 30 say that while they haven’t been contacted for information, they do have ideas about where it could be built. The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce in December launched a...
Is a grocery store on tap for downtown New Kensington?
The new owner of Central City Plaza in downtown New Kensington hopes to fill vacant space there by the end of this year and to get a grocery store operational next year. “We’re pretty confident we can better manage the property, and we saw a lot of potential in the...
Pittsburgh stands out as only U.S. city cheaper to buy than rent, report says
Pittsburgh came out on top in a new Realtor.com rental report as the only U.S. city where it’s cheaper to buy a home rather than rent. According to the report, renting saves over $900 per month compared to buying a home in 49 out of 50 of the largest cities...
David Burritt, fresh off $108 million payday, stays as head of U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel’s senior leadership under Nippon Steel is taking shape — and it looks a lot like it did before the buyout. The Japanese firm has elected to retain U.S. Steel president and CEO David Burritt as well many of the executives around him, according to filings with the Securities...
Giant Eagle buys prescription files from another 15 Rite Aid stores, completing buying spree
Giant Eagle has purchased prescription files from another 15 Rite Aid stores as part of a fourth and final wave of transfers from the bankrupt pharmacy chain to the Cranberry-based grocer. Altogether, Giant Eagle has bought files from 83 Rite Aid stores across Pennsylvania and Ohio since late May. The...
At Home store in Pleasant Hills to close amid company bankruptcy
One of the Pittsburgh region’s four At Home stores is set to close amid the company’s bankruptcy, according to court filings. The Pleasant Hills store on Clairton Boulevard is one of 26 stores initially closing, the company said. No one answered the phone Tuesday, and a message seeking comment went...
Giant Eagle workers to see 3% to 5% raises under new union contract
More than 5,000 unionized Giant Eagle employees will see pay raises ranging from 3% to 5% each of the next four years under a new contract. The workers also will continue to have no-cost health benefits, a 401(k) and pension plans, depending on their role with the Cranberry-based company, according...
Money talks: Younger generations lag in retirement investing
Michael Weleski has been working since he was 12. Now 21, he used the money he has earned to make a variety of investments for his future. “I don’t want to have to work a hard labor job until I’m 70,” Weleski said. The Penn State New Kensington student from...
Westmoreland Mall a feasible location for proposed convention center
A 200-room hotel and convention center with 15,000 square feet of meeting space could find a home at Westmoreland Mall. Some results of a study examining the feasibility of a hotel and convention center in Westmoreland County were revealed Wednesday by Sean Sullivan, general manager of Live Casino Pittsburgh, during...
As Rite Aid collapses, customers and other pharmacies bear the impact
It takes Kathy Younkins just a few minutes to walk to her neighborhood Rite Aid. The 67-year-old has picked up her prescriptions at the company’s Harrison location since the 2000s. But now the Philadelphia-based pharmacy empire is crumbling. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month, blaming “the...
Anchor Inn owners ready to retire, close Harrison favorite founded by their dad in 1953
Ask anyone from the Anchor Inn’s former “Wednesday Night Gang” what makes the Harrison restaurant and pub so special, and the answer is simple — good food, good people. “This town has been so supportive,” owner Joe Kolek said. “It’s been a great living and so much fun.” He and...
New Kensington’s Re:Build to boost U.S. production capacity for renewable hydrogen
A new partnership at New Kensington’s Advanced Manufacturing Park will put the city in the heart of the country’s growing hydrogen economy, area business leaders say. New York-based Ecolectro, a hydrogen production manufacturer, announced last week it has partnered with Re:Build Manufacturing to build next-generation electrolyzers. Ecolectro Chief Commercial Officer...
Little turbulence at Pittsburgh International as Real ID rules take effect
Tracy Moffat experienced only a minor hiccup with her Real ID as she used it for the first time Wednesday to fly from Boston to Pittsburgh. The identification requirement, which went into effect Wednesday, mandates anyone 18 or older present a Real ID or other acceptable identification — like a...
