A New Market Takes Shape in Squirrel Hill
A new full-service kosher grocery store is coming to the corner of Murray and Forbes avenues in Squirrel Hill. The site, formerly occupied by a Rite Aid, remained vacant after the drugstore chain filed for bankruptcy and began clearing its real estate portfolio. Montreal native Itchy Glassner secured the lease for the space, with plans to launch a market called Murray’s in the first quarter of 2027. This development fills a significant retail gap in the local area.
Glassner’s project reached this stage after navigating months of local opposition and legal hurdles. During the bankruptcy court process, the building’s mortgage lender, AmeriServ, contested Glassner’s lease application. The bank questioned his financial capacity to manage such a retail operation. To demonstrate his viability, Glassner presented a business plan that included the acquisition of the long-standing Murray Avenue Kosher store. He submitted the existing business's tax returns and financial statements to the court as evidence of future revenue potential.
The Dispute Between Local Business Operators
The court filing became a point of contention between Glassner and the Markovics, who own Murray Avenue Kosher. The two parties had signed a nondisclosure agreement in June 2026 to discuss a potential sale of the family business. Aryeh Markovic, the vice president of the established store, stated that he and his parents did not authorize the use of their private financial records in the bankruptcy proceedings. The disclosure of this information publicly was a source of friction within the local community.
Negotiations for the acquisition stalled in October 2026 and eventually collapsed. Glassner maintains that the store purchase was never a prerequisite for his new market. But the fallout led to legal action in a New York rabbinical court. Glassner filed a claim against Markovic regarding a declaration submitted by the latter to the bankruptcy judge, which alleged that the potential buyer misled the court. Markovic filed a counter-claim citing a breach of the signed nondisclosure agreement. Despite the conflict, Glassner expressed a desire to avoid further litigation.
Future Plans and Industry Context
Beyond the local disagreements, the new market aims to serve a specific demographic. Glassner estimates there are roughly 600 strictly kosher-observant families in the Pittsburgh area, alongside about 5,000 Jewish residents who purchase kosher goods. He also intends to attract Muslim customers, as many kosher items meet halal dietary standards. Unlike the existing specialty shop, Glassner describes his vision as a full-scale supermarket that features personal care items and online ordering services.
Recent approvals from the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustments cleared the way for the renovation of the 1700 Murray Avenue property. The store will include an ADA-compliant ramp to access a 23-space parking lot and a commercial kitchen for prepared take-away meals. Brandywine Communities, the new owner of the building, has resolved its previous objections to the project. Spokesman Jamison Combs noted in an August 2026 statement that the market is the type of tenant they aimed to attract for the neighborhood. With engineering plans moving forward, the store is expected to open in March 2027.