New & Improved Pittsburgh Public Market Opens In Strip District

STRIP DISTRICT (KDKA) - The Pittsburgh Public Market has been called a microcosm of the Strip District.

"When we were setting up people, were stopping to say "Hey what's going on in there." Eliza Bowman said.

What's going on is the opening of the new and improved Pittsburgh Public Market in the Strip District.

The new market unofficially opened Wednesday morning on Penn Avenue after three years in its original location in the Strip District inside the old produce terminal.

"I think it's in a lot of ways better from a pedestrian standpoint, from a standpoint of being right along Penn Avenue, where the access is a little easier. I think it makes sense," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.

There is still a lot of work to be done for vendors like Glades Pike Winery.

"It's a work in progress. Probably another week or two, but we have a counter and we have a way to keep wine chilled, so we are good," Liz Diesel said.

They begin with 14 vendors in this new location and officials said there are multiple advantages not the least of which is that it's climate-controlled, but in addition to that, they say there is plenty of room to grow.

"Of course, there is expanded space for the various merchants and expanded community space for classes, events and things like that," Becky Rodgers with Neighbors in the Strip said.

For a small business owner like Bowman, who is just starting up, she hopes it is the perfect fit for her baked goods featuring locally brewed and distilled drinks.

"People who never would look me up on the Internet get to walk by and see me baking in this big bay window and that's such a huge help to me getting my business up and running," Bowman said.

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