St. Louis-based grocer headed to Hill District

Monday, January 28, 2008
By Mark Belko,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A local group supported by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation says it has a St. Louis-based grocer interested in locating in the Hill District.

The Landmarks Community Capital Corp. plans to introduce the potential operator during a breakfast tomorrow at the Grand Concourse at Station Square. Howard B. Slaughter Jr., Landmarks chief executive officer, would not identify the grocer today. It is believed to be Save-A-Lot, which is based in St. Louis and has more than 1,200 stores in 39 states.

Mr. Slaughter said Landmarks Community has been working for months to try to interest a grocery operator in the Hill. He said the search is independent of the community benefits agreement negotiations between Hill leaders and the city, Allegheny County, and the Penguins. One of the major demands of the One Hill Community Benefits Agreement Coalition and other Hill leaders in those talks is a grocery store for the neighborhood as part of the replacement of Mellon Arena.

“We independently looked for a grocer because we know the community has a need and we want to provide options to support that need,” Mr. Slaughter said.

Hill District representatives and city, county and Penguins officials have been invited to tomorrow’s breakfast. Save-A-Lot has looked at the Hill in the past and decided against putting a store there in 2004.

More details in tomorrow’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First published on January 28, 2008 at 1:48 pm