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INVESTING IN DOWNTOWNS, ONE INFILL DEVELOPMENT AT A TIME
Voodoo Brewery, Image Source: Westmoreland County Planning
CORE OBJECTIVE 3: REPOSITION OUR TOWNS
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Across Westmoreland County, investments are being made to help revitalize our communities in a variety of ways. A major area of focus for these investments is our downtowns. From the creation of craft breweries to the redevelopment of dilapidated buildings into restaurants and shops, businesses throughout the county are taking significant steps towards improving the areas in which we live.
One of these businesses is Allusion Brewing Company, located in Vandergrift. Allusion Brewing Company opened in October 2020 after months of delays caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now up and running, the brewery is getting a great response from its customers and is contributing to the broader revitalization of Vandergrift.
In recent years, a range of businesses have begun to occupy storefronts around the borough. From breweries to wineries to boutique craft shops, these new businesses are transforming the feel of Vandergrift and injecting new energy into the area. “I think we are bringing excitement for the future of the community,” said Robert Buchanan, co-owner of Allusion Brewing Company.
Allusion Brewing Company, like many of the other new businesses in Vandergrift, attracts customers through its uniqueness. One thing that makes the brewery stand out when compared to others in the area is its décor. Designed to match the style of the time in which Vandergrift was founded, the building has many prohibition-era features throughout its interior. Buchanan says another thing that makes the brewery unique is the wide variety of beers that they brew. While some breweries specialize in brewing one kind of beer and are successful in doing so, Buchanan believes that one of Allusion Brewing Company’s greatest strengths is the extensive selection that they are able to offer.
Allusion Brewing Company is helping to draw a range of new people into Vandergrift. Not only are locally-based visitors stopping by, but also those who live across state lines. Buchanan said that he has had customers come from Delaware, West Virginia, and Ohio to visit the brewery. This influx of people is beneficial to the brewery itself, as well as to the other businesses in downtown Vandergrift. As more and more visit, the status of Vandergrift as a destination that people want to travel to and spend time in will continue to rise.
Another community that is being revitalized is New Kensington. A major contributor to this revitalization process is Olde Towne Overhaul, a development group led by Michael Malcanas. Over the past few years, Olde Towne Overhaul has acquired and transformed a number of formerly blighted buildings throughout New Kensington. More than fifteen buildings around the city including a deli, tattoo shop, ice cream shop, and several bakeries have either opened or are in the process of opening thanks to the work that Olde Towne Overhaul has done.
One of the first redevelopment projects that Olde Towne Overhaul took on was Voodoo Brewery, located in downtown New Kensington. Filling the former site of the Ritz Theater, the brewery offers food and an assortment of craft beers and is contributing to the excitement and energy around New Kensington. As interest builds, new people are drawn to the area, benefiting the community in a number of ways. “Bringing people to New Kensington that have never been here before completely changes everything for the city…it brings revenue, excitement, and employment,” said Michelle Thom, Operations Manager at Olde Towne Overhaul.
These kinds of investments in both Vandergrift and New Kensington are playing a significant role in helping to make Westmoreland County a destination. Redeveloping run-down and unused buildings helps to eliminate eyesores that diminish the perception of our towns while creating new assets that will draw people to the area for years to come.