Carol Hardeman is having a hard time finding the right birthday card at Ross’ SHOP ‘n SAVE on Centre Avenue in the Hill District, but she’s not that worried because she can always look again tomorrow—she’ll be there, just like she has been nearly every day since the store opened one year ago.
“I’m here all the time, before work, after work. It’s just so convenient,” she said. “I live in the Hill and work in the Hill, and I love having this store here.”
It’s convenient for the employees as well. Bakery clerk Janice Murray lives in the Hill and loves the store too.
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” she said. “We get compliments all the time. The food is fresh, and I love my co-workers, and it’s a really great asset for the neighborhood seniors.”
Store manager Ed “Mr. Ed” Mottiqua agrees, and he’s working to make sure more people do.
“It’s a beautiful store, bright and clean, and we have a good team,” he said. “What really burns me is when you hear people saying—not directly, of course—that our quality is not the best, because it is.”
Mottiqua has been running Ross’ SHOP ‘n SAVE for four months. He’s been with the company for five years and in the grocery business for 40. At 29,500 square feet, the Hill District store is smaller than most he’s used to, but it now boast a Dollar Bank branch and will soon have a Subway and Crazy Mocha store opening on the Centre Avenue side of the building.
It also has something else it didn’t have one year ago—signage on Centre Avenue.
“Yeah, I didn’t believe that when I first came. People driving by couldn’t tell it was here,” he said. “But we have that fixed, now it’s about increasing volume. There’s a saying in the business: volume cures all evils.”
Mottiqua said the store has seen some employee turnover, but there are also cashiers like Dawnte Williams and Nikki Griffin who have worked there since before the store officially opened last October.
“Well, some employees will find a way to move themselves out the door, but that happens everywhere in retail. It’s not easy dealing with the public,” he said. “On the other hand, we just promoted one of our meat wrappers to manager. So we’re growing, and we’ll continue to provide quality fresh food and produce to a community that didn’t have it for 30 years.”
Mildred Morrison is glad to hear that. Before the store opened, she would have to spend $7 just to get back and forth on the bus from the South Side Giant Eagle. Now, the cancer survivor not only walks—she power walks to, and through, the Centre Avenue store.
“It’s bright and clean, the prices are great and I know a lot of the employees because they grew up with my kids,” she said. “It’s just great. But most of all, it’s convenient.”
State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill, who led the charge for a full service grocery coming back to the neighborhood said there are still challenges, but he is pleased to see the store making strides.
“I’m glad the doors are still open because it’s a tough business with fierce competition,” he said. “But we have a strong commitment from the Ross family and the support of the Hill House Economic Development Corporation.
“Some people are still going elsewhere by force of habit, and breaking habits can be hard. But with the store responding to customer needs, we can drive customers there,” he continued. “We fought hard to get it and we will fight hard to keep it.”
(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
