'Family-friendly' businesses slated for retail plaza across from Kiski Area High School

A local businessman is hoping to fill two Allegheny Township storefronts with family-friendly businesses after purchasing the spots in the high-traffic area in September.

Keith Fetterman bought two commercially zoned buildings at 181 and 183 Hyde Park Road, situated across from Kiski Area High School. Fetterman, who lives in Allegheny Township, owns several businesses in the Alle-Kiski Valley, most notably the Fox’s Pizza Den in Leechburg.

The two previous tenants of the Hyde Park Road properties were Sobran Jewelers and Nick’s Barbershop, both fixtures for more than a decade. The total floor space of the one-story properties is 1,500 square feet.

Both buildings have been empty for some time, Fetterman said.

“I was surprised to see it still on the market,” he said. “You can’t get a better location — there’s all kinds of activity across at the high school.”

Fetterman quashed rumors that he is putting another pizza shop in the space. He parks a food truck used for his pizza business in the lot, so perhaps that fed rumors, he said.

“I want to bring something family-friendly into these two buildings,” Fetterman said. “I don’t want any business in there that can negatively impact the district.”

Fetterman said he’s fielded numerous queries from interested parties that include an ice cream shop, barber shop, coffee shop and sandwich shop.

“The former jewelry store, with its security system, is like a fortress and is move-in ready,” Fetterman said.

Fetterman said he won’t allow any businesses to move in that would not be considered family-approved.

“I had someone want to put a vape shop in,” Fetterman said. “I won’t do that. It’s right across from the high school — no way.”

Newly elected Allegheny Township Supervisor Jamie Morabito said Fetterman’s purchase is a step in the right direction for the township.

“He’s a well-known businessman in our area,” Morabito said. “This is just another huge step in filling these empty storefronts and bringing back the businesses that Allegheny Township once had.”

Fetterman said both buildings are in excellent shape and that he’s been sprucing up the grounds of the lot of nearly one acre. The property’s parking lot offers 17 spaces.

Fetterman didn’t provide leasing rates, noting they would need to be negotiated with the future tenants.