Downtown Recognition Awards
Third Quarter
2010
The Tarentum
Business Area Advisory Committee has chosen
Lehman Flower Shop as its
3rd Quarter Downtown Recognition Recipient for 2010.
When
Lehman Flower Shop opened its doors at
208 Corbett Street in downtown Tarentum,
Herbert Hoover was president, Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller were
popular entertainers of the day and the county was in the throes of
the Great Depression.
Today, more than
80 years later, the shop remains an anchor tenant along the busy
retail street.
Joyce Williams of Allegheny Township took over the business, located
in a building owned by her husband, from the previous owner 28 years
ago. She decided to
forego a name change due to the shop’s reputation and long-standing
history in the region.
Today, Joyce
offers a full-service shop with professional floral designs, silk
arrangements and plants and offers delivery service to areas as far
north as Sarver and south to St. Margaret’s Hospital.
“I really
appreciate doing business here.
Tarentum is a very friendly town and I’ve always met the
nicest customers,” she says.
Second
Quarter 2010
The Tarentum
Business District Advisory Committee has named
Van Sciver’s Wallcoverings
and Paint as its second quarter Downtown Recognition Recipient.
For almost a quarter-century, Marlis and Denny Fuhrman have operated
Van Sciver’s Wallcoverings and Paint, a store that first opened on
East Sixth Avenue in Tarentum in 1923 and still bears the name of
the original owners.
Known as one of the
region’s leading Benjamin Moore paint dealers, its vast wallpaper
selection, interior design assistance and commercial and residential
installation services, Van Sciver's has helped hundreds upon
hundreds of people across the valley beautify their surroundings.
And they practice what they preach.
With Tarentum’s
current focus on revitalization and improving the downtown business
district, Van Sciver's serves as a model merchant with its clean,
inviting exterior at
311 Sixth Avenue.
“We may be
residents of Sarver, but we have been part of Tarentum’s business
district since 1986. We want to bring people into the area to
support our retailers so we work hard to keep our store and the
surrounding area inviting,” explained Marlis.
But exterior
character does not a business make. Inside, the store is filled with
high-quality paint and supplies, a vast supply of wallpaper
coverings and the store’s second floor balcony houses a gift shop
with accent pieces for the home.
Daily operations are run by Robin Shoemaker, the store’s
stellar manager, who is always on hand to help customers solve their
interior designs dilemmas and oversees daily operations.
“I want to commend
Marlis and Denny as well as Robin, for serving as a great
illustration of the importance and value of a welcoming exterior.
The awnings, well-kempt façade and window displays all work together
to make it an inviting destination on
Sixth Avenue,” says Bill Rossey,
Tarentum’s manager.
“I commend Tarentum
for what they are doing to increase traffic into the business
district and improve the vitality of it, especially around the
holidays.”
First Quarter
2010
Much has changed in
Tarentum in the last 50 years but one constant in the borough’s
retail sector has been the presence of Carl Garrett & Son, Inc.
which opened its doors on January 1, 1960, thanks for the efforts of
founders Carl Garrett, his wife, Garnet, and their son, Don.
More than five
decades later, the
Fifth Avenue building situated near the
railroad tracks is still home to the 12-employee heating, air
conditioning and plumbing contractor.
Today, the company
is operated by Don Garrett and his son, Skip, and Mike Thimons, with
quality and service as their number one priority.
Each day, a fleet
of Carl Garrett & Son service vehicles travel within a 25 mile
radius to service residential customers, who appreciate the
company’s attention to exceptional customer service and care.
“We
at Carl Garrett & Son Inc. would like to thank our customers and
employees for making 50 years in business possible.”
On behalf of
Tarentum Borough, we’d like to congratulate Carl Garrett & Son for
their ongoing success, longevity and commitment to quality customer
care.
Fourth
Quarter 2009 Downtown Recognition:
Dianna Roney didn’t plan to open an
antique and gift shop in Tarentum when she purchased a building at 122 East Fourth Avenue in 2005.
Her plan to use
the location to store and repair antiques that she would eventually
sell at a Verona antique shop quickly evolved when
passersby with some frequency came in to inquire about purchasing
various pieces. “It was
clear that there was a demand and interest in Tarentum for antiques
and that I was in a good position to capitalize on it, “Dianna
admits.
In October of
2006, Dianna and four other dealers opened the doors to
Diamond Antiques & Gifts, a well-stocked shop known for its
inventory of country, cottage, primitive and Victorian furniture,
artwork, glass and jewelry.
It didn’t take
the shop long to capture the attention of local antique collectors
and bargain-hunting dealers from as far away as
Virginia.
The shop’s clientele grew rapidly, as did interest from other
antique collectors and dealers.
As the business
continues to grow, Dianna has capitalized on a new grant program
designed to encourage Tarentum business owners to improve the
exteriors of their properties with architectural elements, signage
and lighting, befitting the borough’s 19th century
history and efforts to create a vibrant and inviting business
district.
In fact,
Diamond Antiques has the distinction of being the first Tarentum
business to complete façade renovations through a grant program
administered by the Allegheny Restores program.
By working with Dotty Roddy, the business development
coordinator of Tarentum Business Area Advisory Committee (T-BAAC),
Dianna received a grant that covered half of the cost of her
exterior renovations.
Today, Diamond
Antiques boasts a new awning that mimics “the storefronts of
yesteryear,” vintage lighting and a new sign that meets the
guidelines developed by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks
foundation, an organization that is working with the borough to
develop design guidelines. Several other Tarentum businesses will
soon be following suit.
“This is a great example of the
benefits of being among the first communities selected to
participate in the County’s All Together program,” said Bill Rossey,
Borough Manager.
“Local businesses have a great
opportunity to capitalize on this grant program that will not only
increase the value and appeal of their businesses, but will serve to
make Tarentum’s business district more inviting to new businesses,
residents and visitors.”
Business owners interested in
applying for a grant can contact the borough for an application and
information.
Tarentum Borough would like
to thank Dianna Roney for her work in organizing and promoting the
first Antiques in the Park event, a fundraiser for the Allegheny
Valley Historical Society that featured antique dealers, food
vendors and a vintage car show this past fall.
Third Quarter
2009 Downtown Recognition:
A new business set up shop in
Tarentum this spring, bringing 20 new workers to the Borough’s daily
mix and one of the town’s most beloved historic buildings back to
its former glory.
The former site
of Second Ward School
and, most recently,
Highlands
Area Senior
Center, is now home to
Rabkin Dermatopathology Laboratory, P.C., a business that performs
skin biopsy analysis and reporting for doctors’ offices across the
country.
When
the company was nearing the end of its 10-year lease on its
headquarters in O’Hara’s RIDC Park, the company’s founder, Dr.
Michael Rabkin, and his wife, Beth, the office administrator, began
to search for new space that would accommodate the two-decades-old
bioscience venture. Employees who live in the area suggested that
they take a look at the building on Second Avenue, which served as a school
for generations of kids from the 1850s to the late 1970s.
“We knew that we wanted to
buy instead of lease,” explained Beth. “With 15,000 sq. feet of
space, employee parking, proximity to a riverfront park and a real
community with sidewalks and nearby restaurants, the location was
ideal.”
However,
the aging building, more than a century past its glory days, was
not.
But
the couple was undeterred and completely committed to a major
makeover that would enhance the buildings functionality while
preserving its architectural heritage.
“We were not interested in an
anonymous office building. We were attracted to the character of the
site and the surrounding area.
We were as committed to restoring the building’s period
exterior as we were to completely modernizing the office and lab
spaces.”
The remodeling
and restoration costs are estimated to be more than 200 times the
initial cost of the building, but the results are exceptional, and
have enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding area in
Tarentum’s 400 block.
locked
window openings and arches have been uncovered; the brick and stone
exterior have been cleaned; the property was graded to remove 12
inches of sediment deposited from previous floods, which washes the
ground floor in natural light; and an extensive landscaping project
is currently underway that will eventually include a rose garden and
green space on an adjacent property that the company recently
acquired and cleared.
The Rabkins
hired local contractors and tradesmen for all the interior and
exterior work whenever possible, including several people who had
actually attended elementary school in the building.
“Bill Rossey and the Borough have been wonderful in
helping us with our relocation and remodeling efforts. Everyone made
us feel welcome. This
was a great move for us and our employees.”
Rossey
echoes the sentiment. “Rabkin is a welcome addition to our downtown
business mix. It’s great
to see a company of this caliber recognize the economic incentives
and cultural amenities that Tarentum has to offer. We’re open for
business.”
Second Quarter
2009 Downtown Recognition:
Weleski
Enterprises’ presence in Tarentum dates back to the turn of the
century when entrepreneur Andrew L. Weleski launched a hauling
company from the dining room of his
First Avenue
home.
100 years later,
his grandson Gary sits at the helm of the family owned and operated
venture that today includes self storage facilities, river
terminals, a truck repair facility, a convenience store, three
Subway franchise and a successful travel agency.
Gary credits his
father, Tony, who passed away in September of 2007, for setting the
stage for the company’s evolution from a local hauling business into
a leading long distance moving company by recognizing the
opportunities in that industry and capitalizing on them.
While the
company’s diversification into other markets is impressive, the
moving business still reigns supreme for the 225-employee company,
just as it has in the four generations since the company’s birth.
Today, Weleski
has offices in Cleveland and Johnstown and is one of the largest of
the 400 agents affiliated with Atlas Van Lines and has grown from a
major player in the A-K Valley to a well-known commodity in the
industry nationwide.
Prominent
customers include the Pittsburgh Steelers, PNC Bank, Mellon Bank and
Ernst & Young who rely on the Weleski’s long distance and commercial
relocation expertise to help key personnel transition to new
geographic locales.
What has
propelled the company’s rise in the industry is the steady
leadership of the Weleski family, four generations of it.
Gary has worked with his
cousin Lynn Thompson, the company’s Vice President, since the 1970s
and both have been joined by their own children, Lauren and Dan,
respectively.
For over a
century, Weleski has been branching out into new market segments and
geographic terrain but the company’s long and noteworthy heritage
remains firmly rooted in Tarentum.
First Quarter
2009 Downtown Recognition:
John Greco,
owner of JG's Tarentum Station Grille, has been chosen for his
renovation and re-opening of a restaurant in our landmark train
station. JG's offers casual, fine-dining atmosphere in a
historic setting.
Fourth
Quarter 2008 Downtown Recognition:
The
Tarentum Business Area Advisory Committee honors
Seita
Jewelers as its 4th Quarter Downtown Recognition Recipient.
Since 1951,
Seita Jewelers has been a cornerstone of commerce in the borough's
busy Sixth Avenue corridor. Owners Curt and Sandi Marino are
committed to retail excellence and the community at large. Renowned
for its exceptional customer service, Seita's and its owners are
equally respected for their work on behalf of non-profit
organizations, as well as the Borough's ongoing revitalization
efforts
Tarentum Borough is delighted to
honor the outstanding businesses and leaders who are committed to
the vitality of Downtown Tarentum.
The following businesses have demonstrated their commitment to our
community, and to the importance of maintaining a strong central
business district for our residents, by electing to locate in our
downtown for ten or more years OR for opening in our downtown within the last two
years. As a component of the Allegheny
Together Program, Recognition Awards will be given to these
outstanding businesses and leaders in the pilot towns. (During
this pilot year, the Allegheny Together program is focusing their
efforts on a preliminary
core study area of our downtown, see details below.)
The Borough of Tarentum congratulates the following businesses that
have enjoyed ten or more years of success in our core business
district.
A-l Rental
Allegheny Lumber & Supply
Allegheny Kiski Valley Historical Society
Asay’s News Stand
Bailie’s Flower Shop
Bangor’s
Blackburn’s Pharmacy
Bonnett Enterprises
Carl Garrett & Son, Inc.
Costello Printing & Graphics
Dalmo Optical
Dynamite Daycare, Inc.
Elks Lodge # 644
First Commonwealth Bank
First National Bank of PA
Gatto Cycle Shop & Diner
Highland Tire & Supply |
JG’s
Tarentum Station
Joan’s Kiln Korner
Lehman Flower Shop
Logan Paint
Fox’s M & G Pizza
M. Maskas and Sons, Inc.
Magoc’s Beauty Salon
Massart’s Restaurant
Praha
Raymond’s Photography Studio
Robert Andreen, Attorney at Law
Sadecky’s Puppets
Seita Jewelers
Stanley F. Bloch Agency, Inc.
Tarentum Floral, Inc.
Tully’s Inc.
The Valley News Dispatch
Van Sciver’s Wallcovering and Paint |
The Borough of Tarentum congratulates
the following businesses that have opened in our core business
district within the last two years.
Ben's Home Brew
Too Hot Tanning
Choppers Bar & Grille
Girl Friday
Diamond Antiques
White Elephant Consignment Boutique
Tarentum Bargain Mart
Tarentum Mart
Superior Sports Cards
While efforts were made to ensure that all eligible recipients are
included in this list, we apologize if your business was
inadvertently excluded. Please send your contact information to Town
Center Associates at tca@towncenter.info or call us 412-577-7447 and
we'll be sure to include you in the next newsletter. To be eligible
for the recognition awards, your business must be located in the
Preliminary Core Study Area (East 6th Avenue, 5th Avenue, 4th Avenue
- all of these from Wood to Corbet Street, and Corbet Street from
the track crossing to 3rd Avenue) and have been in operation in the
downtown for ten or more years, OR have opened within the last two
years.
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