Carnegie Reinvents Itself Once Again
- Vanessa Orr
- 24 minutes ago
- 5 min read
The town of Carnegie has undergone many changes since it was incorporated in 1894, but the one thing that has remained the same is its willingness to reinvent itself time and time again. Challenged by fires and floods, this resilient city of approximately 8,000 people has not only weathered tough times, but rebuilt to become a place that consistently attracts new businesses and residents
That Famous Name
Carnegie was formed when two smaller boroughs — Mansfield and Chartiers — merged. Instead of being named for those boroughs alongside Chartiers Creek, the city was named after steel magnate and millionaire Andrew Carnegie in return for his gift of Carnegie High School and the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, which still stands today.
Originally home to farming and whiskey production, the area later turned to coal mining, which helped to fuel the industrial expansion of Pittsburgh and the United States. As the industry developed, so did the neighborhoods that housed people of every nationality who came to work in the mills.
According to Sam Bigham, executive director, Carnegie Community Development Corporation (CCDC) and the youngest mayor-elect in Carnegie history at age 23, Carnegie is home to numerous ethnic and religious backgrounds, which is reflected not only in the worship sites — the skyline itself is recognized by the domes of the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox churches — but in the eclectic array of restaurants, shops and other businesses.
“Having such a strong refugee population adds a lot to the area; there are many diverse places of worship including many churches, the Carnegie Shul, the Russian Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Attawheed Islamic Center and the Indian Community Center (ICC),” he said. “Not only do these residents share their cultures, but many of these individuals start businesses here, which adds to the life and vibrancy of Carnegie.”
This melting pot has also resulted in an amazing food scene, which ranges from Jalsa Indian Restaurant, which highlights the culinary traditions of India through traditional recipes passed down through generations, to family-run restaurant Seoul Korea BBQ and Peruvian restaurant El Pollon.
“We also have two Italian restaurants — LeoGreta and DeBlaze, and a new Italian restaurant, Lucatino, will be opening next door to Slice on Broadway,” said Bigham.
Local favorites include Bob’s Diner, opened in the late 1970s by Bob Marshall, who was influenced to open his own diner by one of his favorite eating spots in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Carnegie Coffee Company, located in the old Carnegie Post Office, was opened in 2013 by Greg Romeo and his wife, Ashley Comer, and not only serves as a place to get a great double espresso, extra sweet caramel latte or scratch-baked scones, but has become a beloved community gathering space.
Another delicious stop is Apis Mead & Winery, which features handcrafted mead made exclusively with honey from Bedillion Honey Farm in Hickory, Pa. Brewers make the mead in small batches, starting with honey, water and yeast, and then add in fruits, spices and hops to create more than 50 styles of centuries-old beverage. Owner Dave Cerminara also recently began brewing and selling beer under the label Zeitnot Brewery.
Today, hundreds of businesses call the 1.3-square-mile borough home, and more are moving in every day.
“Even during the pandemic, we saw a growth in businesses,” said Bigham, noting that the borough has had even more explosive growth over the past two years. “My Favorite Sweet Shop opened in 2024, and we finally got a bookstore, Wooly Bear Books & Gifts, which is doing great and recently expanded by moving into a bigger space on Main Street."
“We also have a new home goods store, East Main Mercantile, and the Wandering Fish Society, an arts studio, will be opening soon,” he added. “Even our non-retail spaces are doing well with new offices moving into the Carnegie area.”
He added that Riley’s Pour House, which suffered a devastating fire in November, is also planning to rebuild in 2026.
Recovery and Revitalization
The CCDC has played a major role in helping to revitalize Carnegie over the years through its Business Attraction and Retention Program, Facade Program, organizing of the BBOC (Building and Business Owners of Carnegie) and the Carnegie Crawl, among other accomplishments.
“The CCDC is a multi-decade organization that spun out of the IDAs (industrial development authorities) founded in the 1970s and ’80s,” explained Bigham. “It was especially helpful after the flood of 2004, which almost completely wiped out the business district. The rebuilding program included grants for businesses to rebuild their properties as well as grants for businesses to come into Carnegie.”
The CCDC also began hosting events, including the popular Carnegie Crawl. Started as a bar crawl in 2012, the event has morphed into a family-friendly festival featuring live music, pop-up bars, food trucks and children’s games and events.
“We close part of Main Street so that people can come and learn about the businesses that are here as well as show off the town,” Bigham said, noting that many businesses stay open longer hours during the crawl.
Carnegie also hosts a farmers market every Sunday in summer, where 30 to 50 vendors fill two blocks of Main Street, offering farm-fresh produce, fresh bread, plants, honey, artisanal crafts and artwork, and more.
The Carnegie Arts Walk, an annual celebration of local creativity and community, features live art demonstrations, local music and performances, and showcases the unique works of regional artists.
“We’re working to make the Arts Walk bigger,” said Bigham of the free event open to all ages. “Our community leaders and local elected officials value the arts, and understand that arts and artists bring people in.”
Carnegie is home to Firebox Art Studios, 3rd Street Gallery and Double Dog Studios, and the town is also full of murals and includes a bridge painted with flowers celebrating Carnegie’s heritage.
Community events also include the Trail of Terror in Carnegie Park in October, fireworks on July 4, a car show, and Carnegie’s Carols and Lights celebration.
“Next year we’re working on having even more events; we’re bringing back Open Streets and we’d also like to have a night market and more farmers markets,” said Bigham. “The chief of police is currently working on having a music festival in Carnegie Park in May.”
Located just six miles from downtown Pittsburgh at the intersection of Interstates 376 and 79, Carnegie is easily accessible for anyone who wants to attend an event or experience the charming town. For more information, www.visitcarnegie.com.