Downtown grocery store and fresh food market in Cambria County Pennsylvania

Downtown Johnstown is set to welcome a much-anticipated addition: a new grocery store offering fresh fruits, vegetables, and a variety of other foods. This development aims to address the area's longstanding designation as a food desert.

The store will occupy the former Rite Aid building at 507 Main Street, a location that has stood vacant since the pharmacy's closure. The project is spearheaded by Terravista Capital, a commercial real estate firm from Allegheny County, with construction slated to begin in the coming weeks.

Local officials and community leaders have expressed strong support for the initiative. John Rutledge, Johnstown's Economic Development Director, emphasized the store's potential impact: "It's going to mean a lot to these people because a lot of the people downtown that live in the (public housing) towers and stuff like that don't have the transportation to get to those places (outside downtown)." Similarly, Mark Critz, Executive Director of the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, highlighted the broader vision: "This is part of that greater scheme to make a walkable downtown that you can do anything that you need to do, anything that you want to do, and it's going to be within walking distance."

The project's funding is a collaborative effort, with Terravista contributing $500,000 toward the estimated $1.1 million cost. Additional financial support has been secured through partnerships with organizations such as Johnstown Area Regional Industries, the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, and state Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr. The city of Johnstown is also contributing $150,000 in a loan that will convert to a grant upon meeting specific job-development criteria. The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority has taken out a $180,000 loan to bridge the funding gap, underscoring the community's commitment to revitalizing the downtown area.

This grocery store is part of a series of initiatives aimed at revitalizing downtown Johnstown. The area has been without a full-service grocery store since the closure of Ideal Market in July 2023, leaving residents with limited options. The introduction of this market is expected to provide much-needed access to fresh food for downtown residents and workers alike.

In addition to the grocery store, the downtown area is experiencing a surge of new businesses. Jimmy T's Firehouse Pub recently opened at 526 Main Street, offering a unique dining experience with a firehouse theme. The pub's opening is part of the broader efforts to make downtown Johnstown a more attractive place to live and work.

These developments are complemented by the ongoing renovation of Central Park, located directly across from the new grocery store site. The park's redesign is expected to be completed this summer, further enhancing the downtown area's appeal.

The community's collective efforts to address the food desert issue and revitalize downtown Johnstown reflect a shared commitment to fostering a vibrant, accessible, and thriving urban center.