Pittsburgh Public Market Forced To Relocate

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh Public Market is being forced out of its location in the Strip District.

The Market first opened in 2010, as a place for entrepreneurs to open up their shops -- at a lower cost -- in a popular spot.

So the news of eviction came as a shock to most small businesses in the Public Market in the Strip District.

"I was kind of shocked because I was under the impression that everything was going smoothly -- that they were in the process of renewing the lease," said Hersh Petrocelly, owner of The Olive Tap.

The Olive Tap is just one of 25 small businesses about to lose their home because a Philadelphia landlord, the Horton Corporation, refuses to renew the Public Market's lease next year.

"Surprised, stunned, and we don't really have a good explanation as to why that's the case," Public Market general manager Rich Westerfield told KDKA money editor Jon Delano on Tuesday.

Westerfield says Horton gave no reason for the eviction, but the Market will remain open at 2401 Penn Avenue until April.

Bob Shelton is on the Market Council Board and says their goal now is to "find a new location as fast as possible, someone that would be welcoming to us long-term, that we could move our vendors and keep them operational and support them and make sure they weren't at a loss of business."

Where might that be?

"We're looking at all options," says Shelton.

But most shop owners like Brian Coyne of the Backstage Alpaca Shop have a clear preference -- the Strip.

"Being located in the Strip District attracts both people who are interested in food-related businesses and in our case non-food related businesses," says Coyne.

The Pittsburgh Public Market was originally located right here in this building, the Terminal Building, right off Smallman Street in the Strip.

But in 2013 it was forced to move to its current location. Now there's a chance it might be moving right back here.

"It's certainly an option we're discussing," notes Shelton.

Kevin Acklin, the mayor's chief of staff, says Mayor Peduto will help.

"We're eager to be as helpful as we can to help them find a permanent home," says Acklin.

"We think the home they have right now is a good one, and we intend to have a conversation with their landlord to understand the reasons for the termination of the lease and to see if they'd reconsider."

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