Grocery owner says customers 'all up in air'

After almost a half-century of working at Anderson's Market, Bill Holtzer says he's ready for some time off.

Since last summer, Holtzer has been looking for a buyer for the Greensburg grocery store he's owned for 16 years. Often, he puts in as many as 80 hours of work weekly.

Although Holtzer has a potential buyer for the property at 612 Grove St., he'll have to wait at least another month until the city's zoning hearing board will consider a special exception to the city code. The zoning board on Wednesday continued a hearing until July 20 because the interested buyer, Tony Jioio, was unable to attend because of a business meeting.

The delay frustrated Holtzer, who told the zoning board his customers are "all up in the air" because he cannot tell them anything definite about the store's status.

"I want to retire while I'm standing up, not laying flat," Holtzer said during a lighter moment in which he addressed the board.

Jioio, the owner of Jioio's Family Restaurant in nearby Carbon, Hempfield Township, wants to convert the building into a production and distribution center for the restaurant's catering services, said Christopher Skatell, Jioio's attorney.

The restaurant has been in business for about a decade, growing from a take-out pizza shop to a dine-in destination, Skatell said. Jioio intends to hire four people to work at the Greensburg building during the first year, preparing food for the catering services during regular business hours, the attorney said.

Jioio has no plans to open a second restaurant or start a retail outlet for sauce or other food items in Greensburg, Skatell said. No changes to the building's structure are expected and the business will transport items via two cargo vans.

"Mr. Jioio has indicated that the loading dock should be fine for what his needs are," Skatell said.

Holtzer, who owns the grocery store with his wife, Karen, said it's difficult to find buyers for business like his, which is tucked away in a residential neighborhood near the Fifth Ward Playground. There is another suitor, whom he did not identify yesterday.

"So if Tony doesn't get it, it's another type of business" that might move in, Holtzer told the board.

Anderson's Market, which opened in June 1906, operates with a permit for an exception to the city code because the property is in a residential district.

Although the hearing was continued, the zoning board accepted comments from three people who live near the market. All said they considered the business a friendly and cooperative neighbor, but were concerned about whether Jioio might alter his plans after he receives a special exception.

Arlene Bompiani, who lives across from the grocery store, said her "biggest nightmare" would be if the property were converted into a restaurant that kept evening hours. If that were to happen, Grove Street would be troubled by more traffic and noise, she said.

"Once you're established there, I think it's easier to get a lot of things," Bompiani said, referring to future requests for exceptions.

Dan Kaser, a 15-year Painter Avenue resident, said he has friends who have lived near a sauce packing plant. Soon, they were bothered by insect and odor problems, he said.

"Right now, we have a good residential neighborhood, and I would hate to see that change," Kaser said.

Ken Patterson, who lives about 50 feet from the market, said he'd prefer another grocery store move in. A place like Anderson's still serves a lot of people in the neighborhood, he said.