Is a grocery store on tap for downtown New Kensington?

The new owner of Central City Plaza in downtown New Kensington hopes to fill vacant space there by the end of this year and to get a grocery store operational next year.

“We’re pretty confident we can better manage the property, and we saw a lot of potential in the property, not only as investors, but for the city and its residents,” said Hari Pisati, who took ownership of the 80,505-square-foot space this spring. “Our vision is to fill up the space as quickly as possible with qualified tenants and work with the city to meet some of the city’s interests.”

Pisati, of Cincinnati, said he has been in the real estate business for more than 25 years. He owns multifamily, office and retail properties in Ohio. The New Kensington site is his first in the Pittsburgh area.

“This property is at the gateway of the city of New Kensington,” Pisati said. “You come off the bridge, and the first thing you see is this big building. It has a really unique location where it is surrounded by four streets, and I think it’s really blessed in terms of access to the property.

“We want to make sure the property lives up to its location and lives up to the wishes of the residents of New Kensington.”

The main interest is to attract a grocery tenant, he said. Downtown New Kensington has been without a full-service grocery store since the closure of Shop ’n Save in April 2020.

“What we heard is the residents of downtown New Kensington are having much difficulty to travel to the nearest grocery store,” Pisati said.

Current tenants include Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Fine Wine and Good Spirits, Family Dollar, My Eye Doctor and Rent-A-Center.

Pisati is talking to prospective tenants for a grocery store “as we speak,” he said.

Pisati anticipates a deal with parties for a grocery store by the end of year and for it to be operational by spring or summer.

“There is a need for a grocery store in downtown New Kensington,” said Michelle Thom, president of the New Ken Downtown Partnership. “We need access to fresh food for residents.”

There has been a “huge increase” in shuttle use for residents to a grocery store, she said.

Thom said a successful Central City Plaza would benefit all of downtown New Kensington, which is undergoing its own revitalization. That could increase foot traffic downtown.

“We’d love … any additions to downtown New Kensington,” Thom said. “It’s a bonus for everybody.”

Councilman Tim DiMaio pointed to nearby high-rises and apartment buildings to make a case for a grocery store at the plaza.

“You’ve got a lot of people that could use it,” he said. “Downtown is being revitalized right now. That’s what I’d like to see … retail shops, something that’s not too pricey.”

DiMaio also hopes the back of the building that faces the Ninth Street Bridge, commonly referred to as the New Kensington Bridge, can be spruced up by the new owners.

“Hopefully, (Pisati) comes through with what he wants to do,” DiMaio said.

Filling the rest of the plaza could have a shorter timeline than the grocery store, Pisati said.

“We are proactively and vigorously working on the property to make sure it is upgraded, renovated and fully occupied very soon,” he said.

Since acquiring the property, Pisati said, his crews have started some site cleanup. Planned upgrades including paving the parking lot. He is still deciding what exactly he wants to do to upgrade the front and back of the property.

Pisati said the city is supportive of his vision of the plaza.

“Hari really wants to come in and make improvements to the shopping center and fill up the shopping center,” said Mayor Thomas Guzzo. “We’re going to encourage him, and we’re going to support what his vision is. He’s very invested and wants to be involved in the community.”

Fourth Avenue resident Marianne Robinson said she’s at Central City Plaza “all the time.” She’d like to see a clothing store, grocer or drugstore there.

“For those who don’t drive, it would be nice to get a decent grocery store,” Robinson said. “I don’t drive, so it’s hard for me to get certain places if I need to go there.”

A grocery store would benefit the downtown community, she said.

“We need it. We really do, especially for the elderly. It’s convenient for them to walk down here during the day.”

Growth to Central City Plaza could spiral into growth in the rest of the city, believes Vicki Arbuckle, who owns property on Ninth Street and Third Avenue. If it were up to Arbuckle, she’d have a grocery store or “something indoors for kids.”

“I love what they’re doing on Fifth Avenue,” Arbuckle said, “but it shouldn’t just stop at Fifth. Let’s turn around the rest of New Ken.”