Save the Frick Park Market!
Donation protected
The Frick Park Market is not only a local landmark (as noted in the hit song by Mac Miller), but also a community institution in a diverse neighborhood of busy young families and many aging residents who need access to both staple grocery items and nutritious prepared foods. The Market is the only food retailer within easy walking distance for many residents, and also serves as a community gathering spot and an amenity for all living in or traveling through the community.
The Market is in imminent danger of closure if it cannot raise $15,000 for purchase and installation of a new grill hood and ventilation system.
Why? In short, bureaucratic red tape in its worst form. Despite years of passed inspections, this year the City of Pittsburgh ordered the Market to close kitchen operations until they install a new venting system that will cost $15,000. The City wouldn’t even give as little as a 30-day grace period for the owners to start work on the upgrade. I can’t understand why big businesses receive huge subsidies to locate in our City, yet small business owners with a deep commitment to their community are left completely on their own.
Currently, Maggie and John have had to resort to draining their retirement savings to stay afloat, while they make do grilling outside because they cannot even boil a pot of water without threat of City shut down. Yet lost revenue to date and the excessive cost for upgrades are still without a solution.
While the owners have been seeking pre-owned equipment and creative ways to save on costs, the task of converting a modest space in a residential neighborhood to meet modern building codes is not a cheap or easy one.
Those of us who live in the Point Breeze community know the value of the Market in our daily lives and in the character of our community. For those not familiar with the Market, please think of the business in your neighborhood that is always there when you need it, and where those behind the counter know you and your family by name and spend their free time supporting and coordinating events for the community.
Please consider supporting Frick Park Market, a Pittsburgh institution. Many thanks for your consideration.
Chelsa Wagner
North Point Breeze
Elected County Controller
The Market is in imminent danger of closure if it cannot raise $15,000 for purchase and installation of a new grill hood and ventilation system.
Why? In short, bureaucratic red tape in its worst form. Despite years of passed inspections, this year the City of Pittsburgh ordered the Market to close kitchen operations until they install a new venting system that will cost $15,000. The City wouldn’t even give as little as a 30-day grace period for the owners to start work on the upgrade. I can’t understand why big businesses receive huge subsidies to locate in our City, yet small business owners with a deep commitment to their community are left completely on their own.
Currently, Maggie and John have had to resort to draining their retirement savings to stay afloat, while they make do grilling outside because they cannot even boil a pot of water without threat of City shut down. Yet lost revenue to date and the excessive cost for upgrades are still without a solution.
While the owners have been seeking pre-owned equipment and creative ways to save on costs, the task of converting a modest space in a residential neighborhood to meet modern building codes is not a cheap or easy one.
Those of us who live in the Point Breeze community know the value of the Market in our daily lives and in the character of our community. For those not familiar with the Market, please think of the business in your neighborhood that is always there when you need it, and where those behind the counter know you and your family by name and spend their free time supporting and coordinating events for the community.
Please consider supporting Frick Park Market, a Pittsburgh institution. Many thanks for your consideration.
Chelsa Wagner
North Point Breeze
Elected County Controller
Organizer and beneficiary
Chelsa Wagner
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA
Margaret Cook
Beneficiary
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