April 2020 Est. 1985
The Northside Chronicle
Northside ice cream shop opens amidst global pandemic
Volume 36 Issue 4 - FREE -
The Community Newspaper of Pittsburgh’s Historic Northside
By Hallie Lauer Galen Moorer Jr. grew up around frozen treats, so when it came time to pick a business venture, ice cream was one of the first things on his mind. His store, Happy Day Dessert Factory, was supposed to hold its soft opening on March 16 and its grand opening on March 28, but because of recent orders put in place by Governor Tom Wolf to close all businesses that are not life sustaining, the dessert factory had to push back its plans.
Photo by David Grim
Taken in February, just before news of the novel coronavirus pandemic swept through Pittsburgh and the rest of the world, this photograph of the bus stop on West North Avenue, across the street from the Allegheny YMCA, is telling. Just over a month later, on March 19, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf ordered all businesses that are not life sustaining to close, and on March 23, for Allegheny County residents to stay at home. Find COVID-19 resources for Northsiders starting on Page 15. n Photo courtesy of Galen Moorer Jr.
Happy Day Dessert Factory's grand opening was set for March 28, but plans were pushed back due to the COVID-19 crisis. The shop is now operating as takeout-only. At the time of printing, they are currently operating as takeout only and are offering delivery services through DoorDash. They hope to offer delivery services through Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Postmates soon. “I had planned to open the store last summer, but I faced numerous construction delays,” Moorer said in an email. “It’s not how I wanted to start off, but it is what it is and it’s not what it’s not. I am just happy to say that we are open.” While the middle of a pandemic may not be the most ideal time to start a new See Happy Day, Page 3
INSIDE
The long, hard road to equity Collaboration, accountability key to making Pittsburgh a truly "All-In" city By Ashlee Green and Alexis Draut Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle grew up in the Hill District, one of Pittsburgh’s historic Black neighborhoods, and remembers a time when it—and the city as a whole— thrived. “When I was a kid, there were always kids just outside playing,” said Lavelle, who represents District 6, which includes the Northside neighborhoods of Perry Hilltop, Manchester, Chateau, California-Kirkbride, and part of Central Northside. “Now we just don't have the population, so you don't have as many kids just outside playing
- Remembering Margie Schaefer, Page 7
STORIES, COLUMNS, - Riverview Park Entrance, Page 8 FEATURES & MORE - Homebuyer Guide, Page 11
and occupying those spaces.” In 1950, at its peak, Pittsburgh’s population was reportedly 676,806; that
Photo by Lauren Stauffer
The decrease of Pittsburgh's population since the 1950s has taken its toll on neighborhoods such as Perry Hilltop.
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number declined by close to 55% by 2010 to reach 305,704. “I can remember when I was a kid, every seven and a half minutes, a bus always came, to any bus stop I was at, which is obviously no longer the case,” Lavelle said. “Now, you may need to wait 20 minutes for a bus to come.” He sees the effect of Pittsburgh’s decrease in population in the vacant and dilapidated properties in both the Hill District and parts of the Northside such as Wilson Avenue in Perry Hilltop; also, in the loss of mom-and-pop shops. See Equity, Page 9
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