Modern general store coming to former station
Pam Church, director of development for Burgettstown Area Community Develpment Corp., makes remarks about the opening of the train station. For nine years, Church has worked to raise funds for the renovation of the station.
The Shoppe Along the Way store will open later this month inside the Burgettstown train station. The general store will sell snacks and drinks, as well as other items. It also will serve as a bicycle rental shop.
The train station in Burgettstown, built in 1883, was purchased by Burgettstown Area Community Development Corp. in 2008. Following renovations, an open house and ceremony were held Tuesday.
The old train station in Burgettstown is shown at left in this undated photo.
On more than one occasion, Mary Kay Schreiner found herself orienting bicyclists and hikers who happen upon Burgettstown by chance.
“There are a lot of people on the (Panhandle) trail,” said Schreiner. “I’ll be in the store and people will stop and say, ‘Do you know where we are?'”
If Schreiner and a group of borough residents are successful, a replica of the former Pennsylvania Railroad station at 1713 Main St. will soon be a destination and not an obscure rest stop. Schreiner is working to open The Shoppe Along the Way adjacent to the popular recreational trail, which she calls a “modern take on a general store,” with nourishment, home decor and gifts for sale, and bicycles for rent.
Purchased in 2008 by Burgettstown Area Community Development Corp., the 125-year-old railroad station was razed, then replicated by Tasz Construction to restore a point of pride in the community.
“One of our goals was to finish the building and get a business in there that would spearhead revitalization in this area,” said Pamela Church, BACDC director of development and former Burgettstown councilwoman.
The $250,000 project was funded by grants and private donations. The development corporation will maintain ownership of the structure.
The initial intention was to renovate the station, but structural damage rendered it unsalvageable.
“We did everything we could to save the building, but when we started, the main beam had been cut. We had to tear it down. The roof was sagging,” Church said. “We’ve drawn some criticism because we didn’t save it, but we’re happy with how it turned out.”
Church hopes the general store and other neighboring businesses, like Waldens @ 1709 Main restaurant, will spark a revitalization of the once-thriving small town.
“I remember back when I was a kid. At one time, we had three dress shops in Burgettstown, a newsstand, a hardware store and a butcher shop,” Church said. “Main Street needs that again.”
Schreiner, a Mt. Washington resident, also wants to create a unique space with a hometown feel.
A carpenter by trade, Schreiner made the shop’s cabinets out of wood from the original station. She’ll share her knowledge with patrons through workshops, painting and crafting events and yoga classes. Smoothies, coffee and snacks will be available at the cafe, as well as upcycled furniture and other locally made goods.
“We have the space. We might at well use it. We’re sort of all over the place with what we can do,” Schreiner said. “Hopefully, people will enjoy coming in, sitting down and talking.”
A soft opening of The Shoppe Along the Way will take place Oct. 15, during Burgettstown’s homecoming festivities. Schreiner plans to have the store up and running in November.
For more information, visit www.shoppealongtheway.com or the Facebook page of Burgettstown Area Community Development Corp.