Grocery Could Return to Village Shopping Center

Giant Eagle mobile market currently filling void left by store’s closure

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
November 13, 2024
Posted in: Duquesne News

Giant Eagle’s mobile market moved from Duquesne to West Mifflin recently, and there’s hope that a new grocer will move into the former Shop n Save on Homeville Road. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)

On the same day that Giant Eagle’s mobile market officially abandoned its weekly stop in Duquesne for one in West Mifflin, the former owner of a series of convenience stores talked about his plans to bring new life into the former Village Shop ’n Save on Homeville Road.

Since the spring, the Giant Eagle mobile market had been making a Sunday stop in Rankin before reloading its shelves and stopping at Duquesne Plaza. At its initial stop in front of the former Save-A-Lot, more than 20 residents descended on the trailer that featured dry goods, refrigerated food, frozen items and half-off produce.

But over the months, those numbers dwindled, according to Giant Eagle’s Gwen Johnson, who managed the program. “We had nine last week,” she said as she set up cookies and apple juice for visiting patrons outside of the trailer.

The mobile market is now stopping in Village Shopping Center, near a seven-story senior citizen high rise. The plaza has been without a grocery store since August 2023, when a Shop ’n Save closed.

Mohammad “Tony” Noman of Beechview said he is trying to develop a business plan to reopen the supermarket under a new brand.

“I’m trying,” said Noman, who had operated a variety of convenience stores for more than 20 years, before “COVID really hit us hard.” He closed his last convenience store in Robinson Twp. about three years ago.

Then Noman found out about the closed supermarket space in Duquesne Village.

West Mifflin Borough Councilman Tony Topolnak, who was at the mobile market debut, acknowledged that Mayor Chris Kelly and others have had discussions with Noman. And Topolnak is optimistic that a new supermarket could work along Homeville Road, especially for the seniors who live nearby. “They really deserve it,” he said.

The previous operator of the Shop ’n Save ran the store for less than a year before the closure. Noman said a stack of unpaid bills were left behind.

Noman, whose grandparents immigrated from Pakistan, has ambitious plans for the store, but is trying to get the utilities restored first. The electricity was turned on Nov. 1 but Noman was still waiting for water service.

“There is still a lot to do,” he said. “It’s a great location,” Noman said, but added, “we are looking at 45 days, minimum, before we can open.”

If successful, Noman said, the supermarket would carry staple goods and have an in-store deli and bakery. He is talking with two grocery wholesalers as well as soft-drink vendors.

He wouldn’t rule out becoming another Shop n’ Save wholesaler.

If the store reopens, Noman said, it will need about 30 employees in various roles. “We are going to find local people,” he said. “We hope to find previous employees. It will take a bit of a process.”

Originally published November 13, 2024.

In other news:
"Town Hall Examines Po…" || "Army Corps Honors Loc…"