Tarentum church eyeing former Rite Aid for community center

A former Rite Aid building in Tarentum will find new life as a community center/food hall.

Gifted by the now-bankrupt pharmacy chain in 2019 to Abundant Joy Fellowship, the building at Fifth Avenue and Corbet Street will be a place for people to connect, Pastor Cathy Blythe said.

Construction crews were on site this week to install a new roof on the 35,000-square-foot building after it sat mostly vacant for six years.

“We had to wait a little bit to get moving,” Blythe said. “Things are very expensive. But we didn’t want to lose another historical building in this town.”

The new roof is expected to cost $300,000, all of which was collected through fundraising by the congregation of about 100 people.

Abundant Joy Fellowship church is located at 411 First Ave., also in Tarentum.

As a result, the community center will be called Station 411.

Plans include uses for all three floors, with a large commercial kitchen and entry level that could be used for a community meal program.

“We envision that there’s a meal prepared every day for people who need it,” Blythe said.

The church plans to partner with area nonprofits or private businesses to fund the meal prep on a rotating basis. Also planned for the first floor is an art space.

Upper floors will have offices, music rooms and maybe a small day care.

The third floor will be an event space.

Dianna Roney, owner of Diamond Antiques and Gifts along East Sixth Avenue, said building restoration will be a plus for town aesthetics.

“I’m sure they will make the building look nicer than it does,” Roney said. “It will take a lot of money and, hopefully, they get help. It’s definitely better than having an empty building sitting there.”

Church leaders brainstormed ideas for the building that would offer children and family-centered activities to help build connections for people in Tarentum and surrounding areas.

Blythe said there will be a focus on immersing children in the arts, with dedicated space for music lessons, drama performances and art classes.

Carrie Fox, Tarentum Recreation Board president, said the plans sound wonderful.

“There are many that live in the local area that are in need of the services that will be provided,” Fox said. “I hope that it comes to fruition.”

Once the roof project is complete, demolition will begin inside.

There are no estimates yet for renovation costs.

Blythe said the building is structurally sound but needs an interior overhaul. A leaky roof caused rotted wood throughout the building.

She expects momentum to pick up once the community sees progress.

“We want to make this happen,” Blythe said. “This is a place for healing hearts and for meeting needs.”