Courtesy of CBS News
PITTSBURGH, PA (PTTP) – Salem’s Market, a popular grocery store in the Hill District is
closing after the Urban Redevelopment Authority approved $1.4 million to help open it just over
a year ago.
A spokesperson from the market said in a statement that a couple weeks ago the owner of the
store met with community members and told them that they would have to go on an operational
pause indefinitely and that it would allow them to restructure.
The long-term status of the market is still in jeopardy, however, as the spokesperson said they
could not guarantee the grocery store would re-open. With the store closing many members of
the community will now have to go all the way to the south side to get groceries, restoring this
area of the Hill District’s status as a food desert.
Salem’s was especially important to the Middle Eastern community members who came to rely
on the market for things like halal meats.
Mayor Ed Gainey said last week before its closing that he is in talks with the store and that he
wants to work with them to ensure it re-opens one day.