Community Supermarket in Harrison set to close

Harrison is losing one of its longest-standing grocery stores.

Community Supermarket in Heights Plaza is set to close this fall.

Richard Lubkin, asset manager of Heights Plaza Shopping Center, called the store a mainstay appreciated by thousands.

“We are deeply disappointed that Giant Eagle affiliate, Community Market, has opted to discontinue operations at Heights Plaza,” Lubkin said in an email. “Community Market has been a mainstay of the Natrona Heights area for many years. The value-oriented product the grocery store provided was appreciated by thousands of local consumers.

“A sizable portion of Harrison Township and surrounding communities have relied on Community Supermarket for its shopping needs, including many of our mature citizens. We hope to provide an alternative grocery option for the community in the future.”

Lubkin said there’s no word yet on what will be filling one of the largest storefronts in the plaza.

Community Market representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment or details about the decision.

Store employees declined to comment, saying they were not authorized to speak to the media, but several said they were informed of the closure Tuesday morning.

The store is one of four owned by partners Howard Rosenberg and George Thimons. The other stores are in Lower Burrell, Penn Hills and Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood.

Those other stores are not affected.

Margaret Hobi, 80, of Harrison was upset to hear the news. She’s a regular, visiting the store about four times a week, she said.

“It’s convenient,” Hobi said. “I like the prices, and they usually have good weekly specials.”

Hobi had been hearing rumors of the store’s closure for weeks, but her fears were confirmed Tuesday when employees at the Heights Plaza location told her the store would be closing in the coming months.

Sandra Gaskell, 78, a resident of the Harrison Hi-Rise just down the street from the shopping center, said the news of the closure “stinks.”

“It’s just terrible for the retired people here in the high-rise,” Gaskell said. “Everybody doesn’t have a car.”

While she’s able to drive, Gaskell said, she initially moved to the high-rise because of its walkability and its access to necessities. She prefers to walk during her shopping trips.

“I can drive now, but what am I going to do when I can’t anymore?” she said.

Dan Gallo, 74, of Buffalo Township was disappointed to hear his preferred store would be closed in just a few months.

“There’s no crowds. They’ve got good specials,” Gallo said. “I don’t have a problem with this place at all.”

Despite living closer to other store options, he makes the longer trip to Heights Plaza.

“I’m really disappointed today,” he said.

Hobi said since she’s able to drive to nearby stores, she’ll likely start frequenting the Community Supermarket in Lower Burrell.

“I think the community’s really going to suffer from this closing, because there’s a lot of people that don’t drive in this area,” Hobi said. “I think it’s a bad situation for the community.”