The longstanding Shop 'n Save market located at 2820 Universal Road in Penn Hills is preparing to hang up its apron after over three decades of service to the community, its doors closing permanently. In a communication made public on the storefront, customers were informed of an impending clearance sale set to commence tomorrow, with an earnest appeal for them to take advantage of final weekly specials and existing Pump Perks today, as reported by WTAE.
The closure of this family-run grocery store, which has been in operation since 1991, was a decision not made lightly. Greg Hartley—whose parents established the initial enterprise and passed the family torch—recalls the business as a cornerstone not just in their lives, but as an integral part of the Penn Hills and Plum communities, locations where familial and social ties intermingled with daily commerce. "This specific location meant everything to us," Hartley said, per TribLIVE. The closure is a result of dwindling sales figures and the daunting competition from national chains, with Hartley recognizing the struggle an independent store faces against the might of larger retailers.
While the clearance sale, slated to start on July 17th, would not suffice as a lifeline for the store, it aims to vacate inventory, preparing the establishment owners to turn their attention toward their next chapter. Hartley elaborated, "It's (the clearance sale) just to basically clear out the stock. It won't be able to rescue the store. It'll just be liquidating the inventory so that we can move on." Store gift cards and any remaining Pump Perk rewards not utilized before the closure will be honored at their Holiday Park location in Plum or any other Shop 'n Save store, as detailed by TribLIVE.
