Wexford is one of those unusual locations that shares not only several municipalities but also two award-winning school districts. Spanning Franklin Park, McCandless, Marshall Township and Pine Township, children living in Wexford attend either the North Allegheny School District or the Pine-Richland School District.
Confusing? Perhaps. But despite the confusion, Wexford is considered an ideal location for both living and businesses, thanks to those school districts, its proximity to Pittsburgh and the airport, nearby green spaces like North Park and the variety of housing options.
Matt Popchock, marketing and programs coordinator for the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber, feels that Wexford is the perfect location for both businesses and residents.
“Wexford, to me, makes sense for starting a business because of that old adage: location, location, location,” he said. “My family and I have lived in Wexford since we moved here, which adds to the convenience of our location. The town itself is connected not only to the main drags of the North Hills, like McKnight Road and Perry Highway, but also to the main arteries of Pittsburgh at large.”
“The thing we’ve liked the most about living here is, once again, the convenience. Basic needs and entertainment are all just a heartbeat away, and, in many cases, quite literally right across the street,” he said. “Plus, we’re in a safe neighborhood where people respect each other’s privacy.”
With the chamber’s own main office in Wexford, Popchock explained that they help businesses reach others.
“As long as I’m part of the chamber, I want to do everything I can to improve the culture of our organization, and of Wexford as a whole, so that everybody has an equal opportunity to reap the benefits of that culture,” he said.
CHROME Federal Credit Union is also located in Wexford. The award-winning financial institution serves nearly 14,000 members in the Southwestern Pennsylvania area, according to Jasmine M. Hughes, AVP of marketing and community relations.
“Offering loans, savings and checking accounts, credit cards, and a top-rated digital banking platform, we strive to provide great technology paired with exceptional, local member service while keeping banking simple. CHROME provides a community’s banking needs in a cooperative model,” Hughes explained. “We are a not-for-profit organization, so when you join CHROME, you are a member-owner, not just a customer. Additionally, the cooperative spirit is demonstrated through the importance we place on volunteering and giving back to the community.”
Wexford is an ideal location for a variety of reasons. “The growth of the Wexford area has created opportunities for CHROME to build on its mission of financial well-being for all by prioritizing the needs of its members over the need to sell a product to meet a sales goal. We’ve been putting people ahead of profits for over 52 years, and the residents of the Wexford area have embraced this approach,” Bob Flanyak, president and CEO of CHROME Federal Credit Union, said.
Hughes added, “We chose to have a physical branch in Wexford because the area provides great accessibility, being centralized to many neighborhoods. The centrality of the location was a factor for us, knowing that we wanted to be able to offer local services like our community room. The community room can be rented at no cost to local organizations and nonprofits for meetings, training, and other small group gathering needs. We invite the community to contact us to take advantage of this resource,” she said.
Dr. Leslie Pasco, a retired dentist with 26 years of experience, owned her dental practice in Wexford for the last 10 years. So when she decided to start her new business, MyoWay Centers for Kids, she knew it was the right location.
“Our building and space were perfect for our needs. We are centrally located near the highway, and the building is professional,” she said. Dr. Pasco also lives in Wexford. “I like to support my community with the life-changing services we offer for kids. Employees like to work in the area because of the easy access and the professional environment Wexford has to offer.”
According to Dr. Pasco, MyoWay offers early growth and development intervention for children’s jaws and airways using myofunctional therapy techniques paired with specially developed medical appliances. Since Wexford is home to so many young families with children, the location also makes it convenient for many of her clients. “I love the diverse community, and it is easy to access from other areas of Pittsburgh. There are plenty of dining and shopping options, so I love it here. People in Wexford are supportive; they support local,” she said.
Cinderlands Beer Co., an award-winning, independently and family-owned brewing company, is one of those places to eat and drink. Cinderlands began brewing in 2017 in Lawrenceville and expanded to Wexford in 2021.
“Thanks to the pandemic, we came to realize how many Cinderlands beer drinkers were living in the Wexford area, which led us to open our Wexford Taproom,” said Cinderlands co-founder Paul Schneider.
“During our COVID-delivery days, we met so many Cinderlands beer drinkers and genuinely awesome people as our city pulled together and lifted each other out of that period. While on those deliveries, we can remember driving by the building we’re now in and marveling at this little Colorado ski-town-esque plaza and thinking how great it would be to have an outpost there. One day, a FOR LEASE sign popped up in that prime corner unit, and we knew it was a sign—literally—to grow some roots north of our home base,” Schneider said.
Levana Bratique is an independently, women-owned bra boutique located in Wexford. Judy Masucci, owner, opened her first store in 2007.
“When I started my business, I lived in Wexford, so it was close to home and easily accessible for clients from all over the greater Pittsburgh area since it is easily accessible from Rt. 79, 279, and 19,” she said. In 2016, Masucci changed the focus of her business.
“After spending over nine years helping nursing moms, I decided to close my maternity business and open a business where I could help even more people find great bras. From this desire, Levana Bratique was born,” she said. Levana Bratique carries bras for everyone and specializes in hard-to-find sizes.
The Olive Branch is a nonprofit, fair trade retail store with the tagline, “Meaningful Shopping…Meaningful Living.” The Olive Branch is a mission project of Salem United Methodist Church, located in Wexford. So when they expanded the store, Wexford made perfect sense, said Shop Coordinator Mary Sheehan.
“It was started almost 50 years ago and moved into a rental space on Rt. 19 nine years ago in order to truly be a part of the Wexford community.”
The shop allows community members to buy “beautifully unique and ethically made items by artisans in poverty-stricken areas of the world,” according to Sheehan. “It is a gathering place for volunteers who work to improve the lives of people in need. The missions area provides a place for volunteers to come together to create items for international and local mission projects. Volunteers in both the shop and the mission area experience the Olive Branch as their ‘happy place,’” she said.
Café Conmigo Coffee and Tea House is located right along “The Flats of Wexford,” the business stretch in Wexford. Derek Davies opened the café in early 2021.
“I chose Wexford because the northern suburbs lacked quality coffee shops and spaces to gather. Just because people settle down in the suburbs doesn’t mean they need to switch from specialty/small cafes to a corporate coffee shop,” he said. “And although there are so many amazing coffee shops in the city, it is hard for a lot of people who don’t live or work in the city to visit them regularly, especially if they have limited time.”
Despite opening during one of the most difficult times for a business—in the heart of a pandemic—Davies said the location and community are what helped the café not only survive but thrive.
“Since day one of opening, our customers and the community in general were so supportive and encouraging, and still continue to be so. It truly meant a lot to see everyone come together, especially during COVID, to support a small business and also connect with others in the community. In a world where everyone is glued to their devices, I can still say that most people out there are looking to connect and be kind to each other. It is great to witness that every day. It is also great to meet so many interesting people who have incredible stories, do amazing things, and contribute to the culture of our shop and community.”
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