Former Pittsburghers who consider a move back to Pittsburgh a possibility (Beaver: jobs, home)

[guylocke]

*groan* I HATE Giant Eagle, it's such a dump!

Not sure which Giant Eagle's your shopping at hunny, but I've been to my fair share of grocery stores in the country, and it is usually a cut above the rest. I LOVE Market District. It's the love of my life. :P

[Johnland]

I know it is probably long gone by now - or at least I hope it is - but when I lived in North Oakland, I shopped at the small, old Giant Eagle near the corner of Centre Ave and Craig St. Now to quote Bette Davis - 'what a dump!' truly did apply to that one. Small, filthy, crowded. And to really give it that extra touch, it had an armed city cop with a German Shepard inside the store. I know that store was not representative of the chain, more of a unique case. I guess what floors me is that North Oakland, Bellefield and the west end of Shadyside all merge right there forming one of the East End's most densely populated neighborhoods. It seems grossly under-served by grocery stores, unless I'm missing some. I've always felt that urban neighhoods need the small corner store to return somehow. A cross between a 7-Eleven and a Giant Eagle. I wouldn't mind paying slightly more for the convience of a local store. In my version, the walking customer would be the priority over the car-driving customer. A pipe dream, I know, but urban life would be just so much better with that little aspect. I remember on Craig St there was just such a place called the Bayard Manor Grocer, I think. It was on the ground level of an old apartment building at Craig and Bayard. Not super quality and a bit pricey. But it was nice being able to walk from Dithridge St one block to pick up some essential groceries.

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by Johnland

I know it is probably long gone by now - or at least I hope it is - but when I lived in North Oakland, I shopped at the small, old Giant Eagle near the corner of Centre Ave and Craig St. Now to quote Bette Davis - 'what a dump!' truly did apply to that one. Small, filthy, crowded. And to really give it that extra touch, it had an armed city cop with a German Shepard inside the store. I know that store was not representative of the chain, more of a unique case. I guess what floors me is that North Oakland, Bellefield and the west end of Shadyside all merge right there forming one of the East End's most densely populated neighborhoods. It seems grossly under-served by grocery stores, unless I'm missing some. I've always felt that urban neighhoods need the small corner store to return somehow. A cross between a 7-Eleven and a Giant Eagle. I wouldn't mind paying slightly more for the convience of a local store. In my version, the walking customer would be the priority over the car-driving customer. A pipe dream, I know, but urban life would be just so much better with that little aspect. I remember on Craig St there was just such a place called the Bayard Manor Grocer, I think. It was on the ground level of an old apartment building at Craig and Bayard. Not super quality and a bit pricey. But it was nice being able to walk from Dithridge St one block to pick up some essential groceries.

You are right, that Giant Eagle IS a dump! Is that Foodland in Bloomfield still open? THAT place smelled like rotten meat everytime I went there.

There was another chain of Grocery stores I used to like. There were only a couple of them though I think. one of them was at S. Aiken between Shadyside and Bloomfield. It's now a Giant Eagle I think. Do you remember the name it used to be?

[Johnland]

Originally Posted by PApisces

You are right, that Giant Eagle IS a dump! Is that Foodland in Bloomfield still open? THAT place smelled like rotten meat everytime I went there.

There was another chain of Grocery stores I used to like. There were only a couple of them though I think. one of them was at S. Aiken between Shadyside and Bloomfield. It's now a Giant Eagle I think. Do you remember the name it used to be?

I think it was Food Gallery.

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by Johnland

I think it was Food Gallery.

Yep! That was it! Thank you! It reminded me of the "Tom Thumbs" here in dallas. I remember they were one of the first that had organic non-antibiotic fed beef.

[fleetiebelle]

I guess what floors me is that North Oakland, Bellefield and the west end of Shadyside all merge right there forming one of the East End's most densely populated neighborhoods. It seems grossly under-served by grocery stores, unless I'm missing some.

Now, I think developers are assuming that people from that area will hop on a bus down to the GE Market District, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe's.

But yeah, bodegas would be a great thing in a lot of Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

[angellewis]

There are somethings I do miss about pgh.

1. grew up walking in downtown
2. going to every parades especially St. Paddy's Day Parade since family is Irish
3. driving through Ft. Pitt tunnels into Pgh is breath taking
4. My whole family is still there
5. You can take a girl out of Pgh but you can not take Pgh out of a girl

My dream growing up is to live in the country in an old farm home. I am almost there. I am now residing in Weirton Wva. Love it here, much cheaper to live. I do miss pgh in what I posted above. But I do not miss pgh due to the rush hour traffic, the rush, and mad drivers. Also I 79 is doing so much construction now, they are adding a whole new highway that connects with 376. Oh the attitudes in Pgh sux big time too. Everyone here in Wva has the best attitude ever from every young teens who are still in school. They work hard to buy their own car or pay their cars, etc. Here in Pgh oh my mommy and daddy can buy me the car so I don't have to work. I hate that, it bothers me, teens in Pgh are lazy, I was one of them and I wish I was never like that.

I can see where you are coming from about Giant Eagles. I worked in Giant Eagles in West Mifflin Pa for 3 yrs on and off. I hated it, Union sucked big time too. Now that I live in Weirton, Krogers is where I work now and I love it.

[Katiana]

I know a number of ex-Pittsburghers who have moved back. I suppose that is a large sub-group of people that might actually consider living there (again). I don't know how the city could reach out to them. We will never do it b/c my DH is not from there and doesn't want to live there. And I would like to live somewhere near my kids, now that they are young adults and we actually enjoy their company!

[beth ann]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

I know a number of ex-Pittsburghers who have moved back. I suppose that is a large sub-group of people that might actually consider living there (again). I don't know how the city could reach out to them. We will never do it b/c my DH is not from there and doesn't want to live there. And I would like to live somewhere near my kids, now that they are young adults and we actually enjoy their company!

Pgh city and Allegheny county's taxes are high, which offset the originally desirable low-cost of housing. The local governments also seem to operate on an antiquated system (parochial and unionized, etc) all of which inhibit people from moving back.

Dh and I are considering a move back to Pgh for his position....but w/ the Pgh economy sooo bad, if that particular job doesn't work out until his retirement (many years down the road)... I wonder where we will be?

We also want our kids to live near us when they grow up (seems like it's light years away)....here in No Va they will most likely return to No Va from college and find a great job....in Pgh, they will most likely move to No Va to find a great job

Those are the basic problems as I see it.

[guylocke]

but w/ the Pgh economy sooo bad

wow, you really need to get your facts straight. Please don't give advice Beth Ann when you are completely misinformed.

Don't confuse economy with jobs, they aren't necessarily the same thing. Pittsburgh's economy is actually fairly robust right now. There is a crazy amount of development going on and still planned, more than there's been for many years, possibly decades. The retail segment of the area is doing phenomenally well, and this during a time when retail is sucking real bad everywhere. The restaurant business is doing really amazing, too, IHOP and Sonics are both riding the wave with many stores planned for the area.

The downtown revitalization/renaissance is going on full speed ahead and the demand for housing in the city is quite strong.
This is all a testament to the local economy. Office leasing downtown is also on a sharp rise. This stuff wouldn't be happening if the economy sucked, trust me.
All of this, along with our powerhouses industries of technology, financing, academia, robotics, artificial intelligence, biological/chemical/nuclear engineering, IT, and healthcare, and the economy is heading in a very positive direction. Pittsburgh itself has had millions of dollars in surplus for three years running. It's a start, and a damn good one. Anyone who doesn't believe so is living in the past.

That being said, the job market in Pittsburgh is tight, no doubt about it. Unless you are in one of the industries pre-mentioned, you might not be able to just come on over and get scooped up. I've heard plenty of stories of people finding work instantly and other stories of people looking for work for a year and beyond. I believe it is extremely situational, too. You have to be motivated, driven, and smart. It's most definitely not impossible. I've mentioned this fact, too. Young people graduating from Pittsburgh schools are staying at a rate that hasn't been seen in a very long time. We currently have a graduate-attachment rate higher than the national average. I don't have statistics, but I am assuming these young people are finding work if they are staying, does that seem to make sense?