The Town of McCandless, nestled in the heart of the North Hills, was founded as a farming community more than 170 years ago. Now home to 29,400+ residents, the area is a short hop to the city.
Perhaps the jewel of McCandless is North Park, a 3,000-acre county park wrapped around a 75-acre lake. With numerous picnic groves, an ice rink, a swimming pool, a dog park, a golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, boat rentals, a nature center and miles of scenic hiking trails, North Park draws thousands of visitors each year.
The proximity of North Park was the draw for Pro Bike + Run and its attached restaurant and events venue, Cadence Clubhouse, located on Kummer and Lake Shore Drive right near one of the park’s entrances. Pro Bike + Run offers a number of hikes, training classes, runs and races.
“In addition to healthy food, we have 20 taps; we offer almost exclusively locally brewed beer,” said Cadence Clubhouse’s general manager Randy Wright. Underneath the building is a recently renovated 200-seat beer garden as well as a music stage for live bands, and it is available for private events.
Certain businesses along Ingomar Road, such as the batting cages and the Par 3 Golf course, Chub’s Place and Tomato Pie restaurant, are affectionately known as the Gateway to North Park. A recent sale of that land put those business in jeopardy, but a local businessperson bought the land, so for now, the businesses are staying put.
Besides North Park, other amenities that elevate the Town of McCandless beyond a traditional suburb, include La Roche University, UPMC Passavant Hospital and Northland Public Library. And though it is shared with other northern boroughs, the stellar North Allegheny School District is a huge draw for families, as the district has been ranked as #2 in Pennsylvania by Niche and #27 in the entire country.
Town Manager Brian O’Malley said that the top-notch school district, combined with accessibility into the city and older and newer housing stock, has contributed to McCandless’s growth. “It’s a wonderful, suburban community. We have put a lot of effort into our infrastructure and public safety over many years to make it a desirable place,” he said.
Like many other American suburbs, McCandless has its share of chain restaurants and businesses, but independently owned businesses are plentiful. Toni Shelaske, a McCandless resident herself, purchased Healthy Pet Products in 2008. “I often hear customers say that they prefer to shop local, which is why they like Healthy Pet Products, not to mention we have the best customer service and make a huge fuss over all the pets that visit, even if they are muddy after just playing at the North Park Dog Park,” she said.
When McCandless Crossing was built by Adventure Development in late 2016, it provided a ‘town square-like’ shopping option for residents, with anchor stores like Trader Joe’s and Dick’s, along with a Cinemark movie theater, Convive Coffee and many other restaurants and retailers.
When Borders Booksellers filed for bankruptcy in 2011, that left a book store gap in the landscape and a perfect time for the independently owned Riverstone Books to move in. Owner Barbara Jeremiah said that they attract people from all over the northern suburbs and even the city. During the pandemic, the store survived with many loyal customers purchasing online and opting for free personal delivery of books from Jeremiah and her staff. “In retrospect it was a good place to be. It’s a town square kind of layout, with businesses around the perimeter and the row of businesses down the middle that makes it so convenient for customers to park close to the store,” she said. The book store is often hopping with author events and book launch parties, and they have a huge focus on their children’s section, the heart of the store, with multiple story times throughout the week.
Another McCandless Crossing resident is Bella Christie’s Sweet Boutique, formerly Gigi’s Cupcakes and operated by the same owners. AJ Rodriguez owns the business with his father, as well as Sport Clips near Lowes. “If you’re going to build a retail business, McCandless Crossing is the kind of center you’re looking for,” he said. Bella Christie’s specializes in dessert catering, weddings, custom cakes, and the everyday walk-in guest, who can order a variety of gourmet desserts, such as its famous Ho-Ho cake. As his family owns almost 40 Sport Clips locations across Cleveland and Pittsburgh, AJ has experienced doing business in many other towns and believes that McCandless is one of the best places in which to work because of its strong community and demographics.
Style Encore is a women’s resale store also located in McCandless Crossing. It’s a franchise store that was opened in 2016 and purchased by Kristin Morrell, a North Hills native, in June 2023. The store has hundreds of gently used name brand items with new looks being added daily. They encourage customers to ”consume less and express more,” said Morrell.
Bridget Healy moved to McCandless in 1997 when her husband, Sean, got a job at UPMC Passavant. “I liked it because I was near McKnight Road with the mall and restaurants and only 20 minutes from the city, but two miles down the road we have North Park, with the trails, playgrounds and even a pool. We grew up near the woods, so this really appealed to us. It felt like home right away,” she said. Although they both now work in the city and have a grown daughter, they have no plans to move. “McCandless is a great little community that feels like a self-contained small town,” she said.
Patti Harris moved to McCandless a decade ago specifically for the school districts, but she has found a lot to love, from close-knit communities to easy access to the city to lots of local activities to join. “There are a lot of groups of people with special interests that are happy to include people in their activities. We have tried everything from tai chi to fundraisers at the library and have always felt welcome,” she said.
Shelaske added, “What makes it cool is the integration of scenic beauty, particularly in North Park, with a wide range of recreational options, creating a unique balance between an active lifestyle and contemporary living. The town offers a perfect mix of tranquility and convenience. It’s a blend of both longtime residents and newcomers, and somehow, everyone effortlessly connects with the same vibe, creating a sense of longstanding friendship.”