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HarpPgh OP t1_j9tlv5v wrote

Reply to comment by tesla3by3 in The fall of Pittsburgh Bodegas by HarpPgh

You make great points. I think the battle of rents, price of food, wages, and aging owners really play a part. Especially the Bloomfield and Shadyside cases like the ones I mentioned above. Sadly I think we’ve all just accepted Dollar General’s invading our communities. Everything has its place, but unfortunately, the most nutritious product you’re able to get from these places may be Kraft Mac n’ Cheese.

That being said, these places are thriving in places less dense and more impoverished than Pittsburgh and that’s what really makes me scratch my head. Especially within the last 20 years with how much support for self sufficient business districts have been regenerated and walking/biking within neighborhoods have come back around.

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tesla3by3 t1_j9tzo6a wrote

>these places are thriving in places less dense and more impoverished than Pittsburgh

The traditional food stores (supermarkets, chain convenience stores) tend to avoid impoverished areas, so the local bodegas there face less competition. And lower income folks are less likely to be able to travel to a full service grocery store. (no car, poor public transit). The lower density areas also tend to have less public transit options.

Maybe these are some of the reasons they are thriving in the cities you mentioned? In addition to the reasons I mentioned previously?

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