DUNBAR - Don D'Amico actually wants to be mentioned in "The National Enquirer." For years, Pechin Shopping Village has been listed in the tabloid every fall as having the cheapest hamburgers in America. Currently, they sell for 19 cents; a cheeseburger is 29 cents. "We sell over a 1,000 a day," says cafeteria manager Norma Youger. D'Amico's father, Sullivan, owns the village, which opened in 1947. D'Amico is general manager. "My dad named it Pechin after the Pechin area of Dunbar Township. The original store was a small grocery store. From there, he expanded. He bought four closed Union Supply Stores, then moved all operations here to Dunbar. It was named Pechin Shopping Village in 1986." The village sells virtually anything anyone could want. One national magazine called it "the Appalachian Mall of America." Over the years, the D'Amicos have expanded the original grocery store in the village to a supermarket; added a Pechin Express convenience store and deli; Pechin Catering, which can not only cook and deliver, but serve food for any occasion; Pizza Outlet; Drug and Tobacco Outlet with a large selection of supplements and herbs; Golf Shop; Sportsworld, which in addition to its large selection of hunting, fishing and cycling items began renting U-Haul trucks last October; Pechin Beverage Distributor, with a wide selection of beer, pop and snacks; Pechin Home Center, which features live plants from late April through early June, as well as paints, carpet remnants, farm and pet foods, automotive supplies, pool and fence supplies; Pechin Shoe and Apparel; Pechin Variety with tools, housewares, toys, flooring, plumbing, cards and books; and the famous Pechin Cafeteria which also houses the bakery. The cafeteria serves breakfast and dinners; seniors eat free up to $1.25 every Monday, and everyone can still buy a nickel cup of coffee in the cafeteria. "We bake about 800 loaves of Italian bread everyday," says bakery manager Tracy Gordon. "It sells for 69 cents a loaf. You really can't beat that price. People really like our freshly baked products. Kids also like being able to watch the cake decorators work." Two years ago, Pechin Express stores opened in Dunbar Borough, Uniontown and Connellsville. Pechin operates Pizza Outlets in Connellsville, Uniontown and Scottdale/Mount Pleasant. Additional Pechin Home Centers are located in Dunbar, Fairchance, Republic and Carmichaels. Pechin owns the Denbo Marina on the Monongahela River which sells boats and rents 200 docks. The secret to Pechin's success, D'Amico says, is an efficient operation. "We like to think we have the lowest prices on everything." A casual survey of the parking lot, which is nearly always full, bears this out. While most of the cars are from Pennsylvania, a large number sport West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and even North Carolina and Virginia license plates. "People are willing to travel here to save money. We try to buy everything direct from the manufacturers, which saves us, and we pass the savings on. Also, we save because we sell a high volume of merchandise. It's good for the customers and it's good for us." It's also good for Dunbar Borough and Dunbar Township. Pechin Shopping Village employs over 250 people, most of whom live in the Dunbar area, says Marie Martin. The company employs over 400 people total at its various locations. "We've become a landmark," says D'Amico, "by giving people what they want at the best prices around."

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