The Hill District’s three-year drought without a grocery store is coming to an end.
Salem’s Market and Grill has entered into a lease with the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority for the former Shop ‘n Save space in the Centre Heldman Plaza on Centre Avenue in the Hill.
The deal clears the way for the grocery to open at the site in August, once again giving residents access to fresh produce and meats.
They have been without a full-service grocery since March 2019, when Shop ‘n Save closed its doors after opening in the plaza with much fanfare in 2013.
At the time of the closing, Shop ‘n Save owner Jeff Ross said he couldn’t come to terms with then-landlord, the Hill Economic Development Corp., and could not continue losing money at the location.
The URA acquired the property in late 2019.
Abdullah Salem, the Salem’s Market CEO who grew up in Pittsburgh and attended Schenley High School, has promised to bring fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and household products to the Hill location.
He also has pledged to host a job fair to hire 50 to 75 local workers; to offer butcher and chef training programs; to work with local vendors and contractors, including minority-owned businesses; and to try to attract shoppers from outside of the Hill to visit the area.
In a statement, Mr. Salem described the lease deal as “a historic moment and a great start” toward serving the community.
“The residents of the Hill District deserve the absolute best in a community grocer and we plan to deliver the best experience, products, and outstanding customer service,” he said.
During an interview Thursday, Mr. Salem said he was “extremely humble and grateful” for the opportunity to open the store and to serve the neighborhood.
“We want to create an inclusive shopping environment for everyone,” he said.
Salem’s Market & Grill currently is located on Penn Avenue in the Strip District. With more space available in Hill, the store plans to expand beyond its Middle Eastern focus in the Strip to offer a broader selection.
The goal, Mr. Salem said, is “to ensure that Hill District residents can find everything they need.”
“We’re there to solve a problem so there’s no longer a food desert” in the Hill, he added.
Mr. Salem said the store is taking all 30,000 square feet in the former Shop ‘n Save under a long-term lease. Store officials “literally are working day and night to get the place open.”
“By God’s grace, we’re going to be opening as soon as possible. Our prayers are to open as soon as possible,” he said.
In October, Salem’s Market & Grill was selected from four finalists to operate the store.
It was chosen through a community process coordinated by City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle, a URA board member, and the Hill Community Development Corp.
The URA facilitated presentations for residents with Salem’s Market and the other finalists — Family Tree Food Company, Pierre Development, and Fresh International Market. Salem’s got the nod.
“We’re very cognizant of the duty that has been bestowed upon us,” Mr. Salem said of the selection.
In a statement, Mr. Lavelle said the store not only supplies the Hill “with a proven market and expanded grocer, but also provides a much-needed boost to the Centre Avenue commercial corridor.”
While Mr. Salem plans to keep the Strip store, which relocated from Oakland in 2010, he intends to make the Hill site a “flagship.”
“We look forward to being part of the community. We don’t see ourselves as a corporate big box tenant but as a member of the community,” he said.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First Published: January 28, 2022, 11:00 a.m.
Updated: January 28, 2022, 11:05 a.m.
