I think you’re spot on with what has shaped this phenomenon especially in the price conscientious middle class of Pittsburgh and probably the development of the grocery business in general, specifically as suburbs grew and these little places couldn’t keep pricing with the larger stores. However, I’d challenge the fact that there are at least 10-12 neighborhoods at this point in time with several demographics (college students, young professionals, people who live on their own) that would greatly benefit from a small one stop shop and there’s simply nothing other than a junk store or a dollar general. I’d also venture to bet you’d have people who would support them even if it is a marginal markup for product if it means they don’t have to take the time and resources to drive to the bigger stores.

Ultimately, it’s a head scratcher to see bodegas succeed in places like Buffalo, Cleveland, and other cities with comparable and even less density than Pittsburgh. Is it as simple as we were trained and forced into hop in our cars/hop on the buses to get groceries? To your point, I think we have been unfortunately. But if that were the case, you’d think you would’ve seen the same in those cities as well.

I guess my question is how can we as a city encourage and support these places like East End co-op but also the original main stays in hopes we see more people drop the junk food novelty shops and bring in produce, eggs, and things to help our neighborhoods, specifically the dense ones, become self-sufficient again.