In general, it’s wise to be skeptical of anyone bearing easy fixes to complex problems facing big cities, like Pittsburgh.
And yet, there are a few low-hanging fruits that instantly make cities better, and aren’t that controversial. The economist Noah Smith had a column called “Shops Make a City Great” about this recently, and it’s worth a read:
“When we lament the isolation of the suburbs, we’re not really lamenting low residential density; we’re lamenting the isolation of houses from third spaces where people might meet and mingle,” he says. “Those third spaces are shops.”
Seems obvious! Smith makes some good comparisons between San Francisco (where he lives), which makes building anything a patience-testing exercise in futility, and Tokyo, which prohibits a few things, and allows most everything else. Tokyo isn’t an anti-zoning free-for-all like, say Houston; but its rules — like the Large Store Law, which discourage big stores in dense urban areas — are sensible and help create streetscapes that are consistently unique and interesting. Small shops (cafes, bookstores, boutiques, bodegas, anything) give a place character and useful things to buy. They also create small business owners that are invested in safe, clean, and healthy neighborhoods.
So, we should probably find ways to incentivize creating and filling small retail storefronts in cities and minimize the myriad impediments to their success. Adding more and better shops to a city seems like a no-brainer. But any constituency has an antagonist nowadays. In fact, it probably invites hideous new coalitions (bring back our historic parking lots!) that are best left unassembled.
Nevertheless, here are some housing options in close proximity to some of my favorite shops (no restaurants, because that’s too easy):
For sale: 446 Olympia Rd., Mt. Washington, $239,000.
Chatham Village is a lovely enclave ensconced within the verdant hills of Mt. Washington. Built in 1932, the whole development is a National Historic Landmark, designed to resemble an English country village. But enough about that — it’s also in walking distance of Grandview Bakery. Not only is this a great spot for cookies, pies, and brownies, it’s also open until 7 p.m. (Most bakeries close at like 2 p.m.). Why don’t more bakeries do this? You could have the after-dinner pastries market all to yourself.
For rent: 110 Butler St., Millvale, $1,050/month.
I absolutely picked a place to live because it was close to one of my favorite record stores. (I do not recommend doing this, but it worked for me). The Attic in Millvale is my other favorite; you don’t even have to choose between dusty stacks of old records and their new, shrink-wrapped ones — it’s got both. Okay, this place is a very large small business, but the point stands. This apartment nearby is so bright and clean that I might try to get my dental work here in the future. But 320 square feet might be the tiniest space I’ve seen for habitation yet, in a city full of tiny abodes.
For sale: 4300 Bristol St., Greenfield, $190,000.
Greenfield is a lovely neighborhood, but it has had a little bit of trouble attracting useful retail. Oh, it’s got enough vape shops and tanning booths, but could we just get a coffee shop or a decent non-pizza restaurant? However, it’s starting to get some weird little niche shops, and those are awesome. Like the Greenhouse Co-op brews hard cider (excellent) and sells plants (why not?). I want more unlikely combinations like this: cutlery and cheese, vodka and model airplanes, hot sausage and sporting goods, brisket and batting cages, power tools and tequila, etc. The house? Oh, well, the inside and outside look like they belong to different structures entirely, but, uh, can I interest you in some iced tea and samurai swords?
For rent: 1209 Linden Pl., Deutschtown, $1,015/month.
Oh, look at that, another record store. Government Center is also a concert venue, coffee shop, and barroom — a veritable embarrassment of riches. For people who like to do things while listening to music (like me), browsing for records is one of those things. The only downside is that it’s overlooking a picturesque onramp to a parkway, but not every Pittsburgh home is entitled to amazing views. Oh, this apartment has a kitchen with new-ish cabinets and a fireplace that no one will mistake for something you can still put flames into.
For sale: 858 Monteiro St., Greenfield, $175,000.
In addition to the aforementioned vape shops and tanning booths, Greenfield also has a lot of banks. Sure, banks serve a purpose, but they’re mostly just billboards for banking services that are easier to access online. However, Greenfield excels in one very useful category: small, ethnic grocers . It has not one but two Ukrainian delis: Natalya European Food Market and Kiev. Both have an excellent selection of chocolates, candy, and pierogies, but Kiev has a full butcher shop. Someday I’m going to ask my Ukrainian friend how to order sausage or something. This house has three bedrooms and a sunroom, which would be useful if it ever stopped raining.
For rent: 512 S. Millvale Ave., Apt. 3, Bloomfield, $1,500/month.
It’s possible to have too many records; every year, friends start getting rid of their collections for various reasons, and I wonder, “Do they know something I don’t?” Then, I remember the pandemic and the acquaintances who went full minimalist were stuck inside for years with nothing but bare walls and a phone (and all the horrors of reality) for company. All I’m saying is that if a few pieces of obsolete media are what’s keeping me from cracking up, then they are worth it. But now that I’m older I really do spend more time in bookstores, especially if they have coffee and beer like The White Whale in Bloomfield. Pro tip: if you’re traveling, look for an independent bookstore; nine out of 10 times it’s in an interesting part of town.
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2025.
