The new Family Dollar store on Brighton Road in Pittsburgh opened recently. I visited for the first time today, and, as I expected, the parking.... The new Family Dollar store on Brighton Road in Pittsburgh opened recently. I visited for the first time today, and, as I expected, the parking lot was full and the cashier line extended though the isles. This is because of a severe lack of retail opportunities in the city.

Attempts to add retail in the urban corridors along the three rivers have been limited to mid-upper scale department stores. These attempts have been failures. Family Dollar thrives. If you're not familiar with Family Dollar I will try to describe it. "A very small K-mart" or "Walgreens without the Pharmacy" might be accurate descriptions. If you think it's one of those mall stores that sell any useless thing just because it costs $1, that's not it. Family Dollar and Dollar General have pillows, spray-paint, toothpaste, thumb tacks, batteries, basic clothing items--things folks need for every day living.

Thing is on the Northside--and in most of the city--there's no place to find these items. Instead we've used tax money to lure the likes of Lord and Taylor. All stores that sell everyday items don't aim specifically at the dollar-conscious crowd, but they are the stores city residents need.

I'd like to also point out an area that seems to beg for retail stores. The land is vacant and calling for a Rite-Aid or Walgreens (or Dollar General). It's along 279 Madison Avenue. If you're a retail scout, click on this map.