With eyes on revitalization, business owners band together in Vandergrift

Steve Jurovic said he had grown tired of hearing local people complain that the Vandergrift area was economically depressed.

“There’s too much defeatism and pessimism in this area. You can’t just sit there and sulk,” said Jurovic, 83, who owns Apollo Replacement Windows on Vandergrift’s Grant Avenue.

Jurovic said he decided to do something about it, co-founding the nonprofit Vandergrift Business Association with Robert Buchanan of Allusion Brewing Company, Bill McClarnon of Organized Interiors and new borough resident Nick Morgan.

The group, which will meet for the first time at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Allusion Brewing Company, aims to promote business growth and unity in the borough and surrounding area.

“People told me that a business association will never get done in this town,” said Jurovic, originally from Turtle Creek. “My message is, I’ve already done it and it will go forward.”

Jurovic pointed to another similar business association in Texas where he owns another business, noting the association grew from humble beginnings and became successful.

“This group was able to make suggestions to town council and sometimes business owners can affect change. There is strength in numbers,” Jurovic said.

McClarnon, of Organized Interiors, said he’d like to see a more walkable business section and a revival of a small-town atmosphere.

“There’s so much potential, but too many empty storefronts,” McClarnon said. “I’d like to see a walkable town like Aspinwall.”

Buchanan, who opened his microbrewery on Grant Avenue last year and said he received support from the borough before and after opening, added, “We want to be actively involved to help other businesses open in this town.”

Jurovic said he welcomes business owners from neighboring communities such as Leechburg and Apollo.

“This whole area should grow and it can grow if we pull together,” he said. “I will go door-to-door and recruit businesses from the area. My mission is to unify businesses to work to a common goal for economic revitalization.”

Morgan, an insurance businessman who recently moved to Vandergrift, said attracting young families is a goal of his. He said he thinks the borough has curb appeal that could help attract new businesses.

“A new business can have a building with an appealing turn-of-the-century architecture, but they aren’t on a historical registry so … (prospective business owners could) make whatever they want (inside a building) without any historical restrictions,” Morgan said.

Vandergrift mayor Barb Turiak praised the group’s efforts.

“Any citizen group that can help improve our business and town, I’m all for that,” Turiak said.

For more information, interested business owners can call 724-571-7907.