Residents and government officials who tried to keep open the Giant Eagle supermarket in Olympia Shopping Center have lost their battle but will gain a new store in White Oak.
The store will close May 3, a decision made by franchise owner Bob Budd and not the corporate office, said Dick Roberts of Roberts Communications, Giant Eagle's public relations firm.
But Roberts said Scozio's Shop 'n Save in Oak Park Mall in White Oak will reopen May 4 as a Giant Eagle, essentially replacing the Olympia store.
Store owner Mark Scozio said the Shop 'n Save's 150 employees will keep their jobs, and he likely would hire Olympia Giant Eagle employees as needed. The Olympia employees also will be offered positions at other Giant Eagle stores, Roberts said.
"Many stores are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said.
Budd declined to comment on the store's closing.
Joyce Arillotta, of McKeesport, had set up an online petition -- which drew about 400 signatures -- in an effort to keep the store open.
Olympia landlord Union Realty wants to keep a supermarket there so that the loss of Giant Eagle doesn't hurt other tenants, said Ed Kernisky, vice president.
But other tenants are concerned.
"If Giant Eagle closes, another store will close, and then another," said Kim Pennell, who works at Puff's Discount Tobacco in the Olympia center. "This shopping center brings a lot of money to the borough. I'm worried about it."
Nancy Slater, an employee at Payless ShoeSource, worries about seniors who shopped regularly at the store.
"Many of them take the bus or walk here, but if Giant Eagle moves to White Oak, they will have to take a bus all the way into McKeesport and then another bus to Oak Park Mall," she said.
Democratic state Rep. Marc Gergely, of White Oak, said he would meet with Port Authority of Allegheny County officials to ask if a bus route could be established to the new Giant Eagle.
"We will do anything we can to keep an active grocery store in Olympia and to accommodate residents by possibly adding a temporary bus line," he said.
