Are walkability and urban living important to real life Yinzers? (Bethel Park: cul-de-sac, townhouse)

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by xdv8

I have a convenience store a few blocks from my home that sells all of that. What do you mean?

You're lucky, then. I live in an expensive, dense neighborhood that does not have that. We have to walk to Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, or the Strip (~20 minutes each way) to access anything like that.

[norcider]

Originally Posted by xdv8

I have a convenience store a few blocks from my home that sells all of that. What do you mean?

The little neighborhood stores were a mix of grocery, deli, basic needs. There's one you can visit in Spring Garden called Marshall's that is an example of this. You can even get things like fuses and other household items there. Marshall's is owned by Joey Spehar's (WYEP) parents and they are awesome people.

[norcider]

Do convenience stores really sell canned goods?

[norcider]

I am lucky to be within walking distance of a great butcher, laundromat, pizza shops, small GE, couple of dive (real dives not this pseudo/fake dive BS like you see in Lawrenceville) bars and a big box drug store and I enjoy having the option of walking to them.

[xdv8]

Originally Posted by norcider

Do convenience stores really sell canned goods?

I'd say neighborhood convenience stores usually have about 10 canned good options. Mine is very ethnic so it has other choices outside of the norm so I acknowledge that but back when I lived on the other side Penn my local store also had canned goods.

[norcider]

Originally Posted by xdv8

I'd say neighborhood convenience stores usually have about 10 canned good options. Mine is very ethnic so it has other choices outside of the norm so I acknowledge that but back when I lived on the other side Penn my local store also had canned goods.

Sounds like you have a neighborhood store then, kind of what I was referring to. That's awesome.

[Goinback2011]

Originally Posted by norcider

I was going to add that most neighborhoods used to have a small grocery where you could get the essentials. I remember walking from my childhood home to the small business district on Shadeland avenue to go to Peggy Ann's store for candy and whatever but they had milk, bread and canned goods as well. These little stores were everywhere, not any more.

The business district in Dormont in the 3200 block of West Liberty Ave had the following when I was growing up:

2 small grocers
TV and stereo retailer
Doctors office
Dentists office
The original AB Charles hobby shop
2 stinky bars
Hardware store
Isalys
Pharmacy with a soda fountain
Notary
Restaurant
Bakery
Pizza shop
Dry cleaners

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

As time goes on, the only brick and mortar establishments in a little business district will be restaurants and bars. It's mostly that way now.

Disagree. There's a huge number of service-based businesses which aren't going online, like hair salons, dentists, dog grooming places, yoga studios, etc. There's also space for niche retail if it specializes in stuff you can't find on Amazon.

What I can't for the life of me figure out is why bank branches still seem to be proliferating. I mean, like most people, I have direct deposit. 95% of my banking needs can be dealt with by using an ATM or an app on my phone. Who are these people who go into the bank every day that having so many bank branches is profitable?

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

You're lucky, then. I live in an expensive, dense neighborhood that does not have that. We have to walk to Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, or the Strip (~20 minutes each way) to access anything like that.

Polish Hill is dense, but it only has 1,000 or so people. You guys are lucky to sustain the coffee shop and a few dive bars honestly.

[Goinback2011]

There's a huge number of service-based businesses which aren't going online, like hair salons, dentists, dog grooming places, yoga studios, etc. There's also space for niche retail if it specializes in stuff you can't find on Amazon.

None of which you want to walk to on a daily basis.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by norcider

The little neighborhood stores were a mix of grocery, deli, basic needs. There's one you can visit in Spring Garden called Marshall's that is an example of this. You can even get things like fuses and other household items there. Marshall's is owned by Joey Spehar's (WYEP) parents and they are awesome people.

Hm, I learned something new. Marshall's also run a woodworking business next store..? Spring Garden is a neat little hidden spot.