New businesses bolstering shopping, dining options in downtown Greensburg

A storefront along Greensburg’s North Main Street soon will be home to a new clothing boutique. The addition is only one of several businesses opening downtown this year.

Elizabeth Von Boutique is expected to open its doors at 21 N. Main St. in late summer, offering an array of business casual and on-trend women’s clothing, according to co-owner Tiffany Leighty. The store has been operating online since November, when Leighty first got into business with Kaitlin Weiers. Both are of Latrobe.

“Obviously, starting during a pandemic, we were like, ‘We’re going to go online first,’ ” said Leighty, 31, who also owns Lyn Michael Photography. “The reaction around here has been amazing.”

Since opening online, Leighty and Weiers, 32, a finance manager, have participated in pop-up events where they temporarily set up shop. The boutique also sells children’s clothing.

Leighty and Weiers are renovating their rented storefront. According to the city’s planning department, the building previously housed a slew of restaurants, including Isaly’s, the Courtyard Deli and Getty’s Grill.

“It literally just fell into place to be in Greensburg and to be in such a great location,” Leighty said.

The store will be located in a row of buildings across from the Westmoreland County Courthouse that also is home to Sun Dawg Cafe and the recently opened Main Street Sweets. The milkshake and candy shop opened on Memorial Day in the lower level of the building at 41 N. Main St. The store offers ice cream as well as retro and international sweets.

Across the street at 101 N. Main St., officials with the Greensburg Community Development Corp. are moving from their location at the Greensburg train station, according to Ashley Kertes, director of the nonprofit organization that assists the city and organizations with community development.

“We’ll be more centrally located in downtown Greensburg,” Kertes said. “We’ll be right on Main Street. … We’re kind of off the beaten path right now at the train station.”

Kertes said the move should be complete this summer.

Several other businesses are popping up around Greensburg, including downtown and elsewhere.

Henry’s Hoagies, which offers sandwiches, pepperoni rolls, daily soups and more, opened in March at 16 W. Second St.

Another restaurant is slated to open this year. The owners of Sun Dawg Cafe are working to open El Diablo Brewing Co. & Wood-Fired Kitchen at 503 New Alexandria Road. The nanobrewery, which is being opened by Ray and Rachel Flowers, will offer craft beer and wood-fired cooking, including a pizza oven and grill.

El Diablo is expected to open in August, Rachel Flowers said.

“People are still investing in the community,” said Jessica Hickey, founder of the Downtown Greensburg Project. “We do have businesses coming in. There are buildings being sold to be redeveloped. Before covid, things were happening. We might have lost a little bit of momentum during (the pandemic), but we’re still seeing growth. That didn’t go away completely.”

Wight Elephant Boutique and Invisible Man Brewing opened downtown in 2019. The Trendy Bunny baby boutique joined them last year on South Pennsylvania Avenue.

Mary Wilmes, owner of staple Penelope’s Gifts & More, is pleased to see business growth in the city. Wilmes has owned Penelope’s for five years, but the business has operated at the corner of South Pennsylvania and West Pittsburgh Street for about 30 years.

“I’m very happy about anything new coming in,” Wilmes said. “I think the more we have, the more people want to shop in town.”

Kevin Miscik, owner of Lapels A Fine Men’s Clothier, feels the same way.

Miscik opened Lapels in 2002 across the street from Penelope’s. Over the past two decades, he said, he has seen a shift in people wanting to shop local, more interest from younger generations and increased traffic flow through the city.

“I am beyond thrilled,” Miscik said of businesses opening downtown. “Being here for 18 years, I’m so happy to see that more people are following in my footsteps and opening up different boutiques. We’re so welcoming of all new businesses.”

For Leighty, opening Elizabeth Von Boutique in Greensburg was something that just fell into place, she said.

“We kind of realized that small shops are really coming back and this is the best time to do this, to open now and be one of the first,” Leighty said. “I know a lot of people are going to be doing that.”