posted by Joe Polk at 9:02 PM /
A walk past their former store (and a few emails from our blog readers) informed me that Enrico Biscotti has closed on Washington Road. I've been hearing about little to no shoppers on a daily basis from some of the merchants on the street, but I didn't know that Enrico's was in jeopardy of leaving. Anyone hear anything about the closing?
Labels: business closing, enrico biscotti, washington road
4 Comments:
We didn't hear about Enrico's until the day before it happened. A couple of their employees were regular customers of ours as well as customers of other stores on the street, so it'll cost many of us a few dollars a day.
It's important to recognize that every time a business closes, it affects neighboring businesses. Restaurants lose lunch business from the store employees who are now out of work. Rolliers sells fewer light bulbs, screws and paint. Stationery stores sell fewer custom invitations. Hair and nail salons, shoe repair stores, coffeehouses... we all lose a little revenue every time a local business closes.
That's two businesses down on Washington Rd. this month (Planet Art being the other). The Obama HQ continues to stand vacant. There's been at least one closing in Mt. Lebanon Shops of a long time tenant - all seemingly related to the economy. Wouldn't be at all surprised if there are more in the weeks and months to come.
We've been hearing bad news from area businesses for weeks. It's tough out here. So while residents seem split on whether to spend more on schools and raise taxes, further crimping discretionary income, we're wondering if the average resident notices or cares when local businesses close and local jobs are lost.
Mt. Lebanon is not recession-proof. We're wondering how long landlords will hold out trying to find the right "character" businesses for their vacancies before inviting in whomever is willing to pay the high commercial rents here.
Of course one could look at the positives. If nobody's shopping or using local businesses, then nobody's taking time to park. So traffic moves faster.
People are spending their time at school board meetings instead of coffee shops.
Well, any time there is a recession Art Galleries are going to take a hit, but if Planet Art is leaving Mt Lebanon I hope to see them at another location in the Pittsburgh area. As for the Biscotti shop closing I think it was just a matter of time for them to close up shop. I rarely saw people in there, so maybe it just wasn't a good fit for Washington Rd. From what I have seen, however, the Washington road restaurants and coffee shops are still doing well. Aldo, Mineo's, Bistro 19, Aladdin's Little Tokyo, Il Pizzaiolo, Sesame Inn - all seem packed when I walk by or stop in to eat. And no, parking on Washington Road isn't any easier these days.
It's true, we are closing up. Stop in to get a smoking deal on local art!
You can always find us as Mitchell Glassworks, we will be at the Home and Garden show in March.
The Obama headquarters is now going to be...drumroll please...Quest Diagnostic!! Whoohoo.
And people wonder why retail can't make a go of it on this street. We dont' allow Tradder Joe's to open (this is a rumor that I've heard, I don't really know the facts, but if TJ had opened I know it would have saced our business), but have no problem with Quest on street level retail, ugh.
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