New Kensington has fought to establish its identity since its founding. Initially, its incorporators in 1890 called it “Kensington,” but the postal service shot back that there already was a Kensington near Philadelphia.
So, the town became “New” Kensington, now better known as New Ken to the people who live in and love it. It’s no secret that New Kensington has fallen on hard times over the years—deindustrialization hit New Ken hard, as it did much of Pittsburgh. It’s a small town with a big heart, full of sunbaked brick buildings on the shore of the Allegheny River, right over the line of Westmoreland County. People talk to you at the bus stops and the coffeeshops, and walking around with a local means no one escapes a greeting and a chitchat. I visited on a summer day, the kind of day that makes towns in the Alle-Kiski Valley feel like they’re frozen in time, a long, sunny, quiet afternoon stretching over forever.
What’s New in New Kensington?
Local small businesses are spearheading a revitalization effort in New Kensington. What makes this revitalization special is that it isn’t led by big developers or new industry, but instead directly by the people of the community. New Kensington’s buildings show the grandeur of its past as an aluminum production hub (and, many say, as the center of Pittsburgh’s mafia). But its present comes from the people working hard to create a thriving local economy, particularly on the business district in Fifth Avenue.
Sweet Tillies, at the Forefront of New Kensington’s Bakery Boom
Amy Johnson, who runs bakery Sweet Tillies, grew up in the once-booming New Ken but rarely went downtown in more recent years. “I never came down here because there was nothing to come down to anymore,” she said. “My landlord, Mike [Macalnas] could look at the buildings and appreciate the beauty, but my emotions never let me get there.” Macalnas runs Olde Town Overhall, a revitalization program aimed at helping small business owners get their foot in the door in downtown New Kensington. Macalnas’ slogan is “Don’t wait—create your own main street!” The call resonated with Johnson.
How she started Sweet Tillies is straight out of a Hallmark movie. In 2020, Johnson worked in the HR department at UPMC. “I was feeling real heavy in life. When I met Mike, I started this place,” she explained. Johnson learned how to make baklava (which she pronounces as “bakla-wah,” Syrian-style) from her grandmother, Matilda. Johnson’s middle name is Matilda, so she was “Little Tillie,” inspiring the name of the bakery. “I didn’t see a lot of people doing flavors of baklava,” she said. Her baklava come in amaretto, chocolate peanut butter, Biscoff cookie butter, and apricot ginger, among others.
Foot traffic has increased measurably in the five years she’s been open. “When I started, business was more online orders, but now it’s about 60% walk-in, 40% online,” Johnson said.Very few people actually follow the plot of leaving the corporate world to move back to their hometown and start a bakery based on their family traditions, but Johnson is proof that New Kensington is where that fairytale could come true.
Why Start a Business in New Kensington? Why Not?
Just down the street, Mark and Mandy Simon had just opened their business less than a week from our conversation. New Ken residents filtered in and out of Lucky Duck Candy Company all afternoon. When asked why start a business in New Kensington, Mark Simon gave a succinct answer: “Why not?”
The Simons opened a smoke shop, Glass on Fifth, several years prior, but knew they wanted to expand into something else eventually. “People would come in and say ‘thanks for opening a shop here, but there’s nothing for the kids,” Simon remembered. “I’ve always wanted to own a candy store since I was a kid. In one word, candy brings happiness. And that’s what New Ken deserves, something to be proud of.”
Simon grew up in Erie and always found the small but walkable town to be where he wanted to live. The businesses he runs with his wife are his way of investing in New Kensington’s community. “We make adults happy at the smoke shop and kids happy here,” he said, gesturing at the whimsical pastel décor of Lucky Duck.
Though there seems to be a high demand of bakeries and candy shops in New Kensington—along with Sweet Tillies and Lucky Duck, there’s also Wildflower Bakery, Evanly Bakes, and Sweet Alchemy—and that’s not all you can get downtown. A quick drive south will take you to Jillian’s, a trendy fine dining hub with hyper-local produce. Common Oven, out of Strange Roots brewery, offers fresh, homemade pizza you can enjoy on an outdoor patio along with delicious local beers.
Making an Impact Through Fair Trade
If you’re looking to buy clothes, there’s also a fair-trade store, Ethical Hope, right in downtown New Kensington. Owner Meredith Hedeen taught in local juvenile detention centers but felt the work wasn’t making the impact . “I wasn’t allowed to see them as a whole person. How can I get mad at this kid for not getting an A on this test when she’s taking care of her infant brother?” Hedeen recalled. “It’s been really cool to see people locally react to the idea that they can do something about these issues.”
Specifically, she wanted to start a store that focused not just on fair trade but on supporting victims of trafficking—something people don’t’ realize happens in their own community to children without support systems. Beyond soaps and sundresses, she now offers an educational space for local families to bring their children for workshops and play sessions.
“We’ve always been saying somebody needs to come in. We’ve kinda been watching, and we’re really glad to be a part of it,” Hedeen said.
Fridays on Fifth, New Kensington’s Newest Festival
Tony and Nicole Vigilante helped to create “Fridays on Fifth,” a monthly local business crawl on Fifth Avenue. Fridays on Fifth is the fourth Friday of every month and incorporates food trucks from around Pittsburgh. Next time you’re wondering what to do on a Friday night, the food truck festival is a great low-cost option that will allow you to explore what might be a new part of Pittsburgh to you.
“It brings in thousands and is helping change the perception of the city,” Vigilante said. “People enjoy two breweries, a winery, axe throwing, a coffee shop, a record shop/concert venue, as well as various shops. This makes us proud that we are playing our part and excited about what is to come.” Vigilante also serves as solicitor for the city and school district.
In addition, Nicole recently opened a vintage home décor shop, Trovo, right beside locally-beloved coffeeshop Steel Cup. Both hope to be a part of the city’s future. “We are pretty invested here,” Vigilante said. “We both grew up here and know it has so much potential.”
Story by Emma Riva
Photo courtesy of Tamarck Foundation, mural by Bernie Wilke
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