Business & Merchant

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 April 2014 15:00

By J.R. Brower

Since February 10, when the McMurray Dairy Bar and Market became Heisler's Market, the new management has slowly begun to make changes to the popular landmark establishment, which has always been more than just a grocery store.

Ed Heisler and Ed Heisler, Jr. are busy making improvements at their landmark McMurray store.

Like the prior owners, Gary and Carol Duckworth, Ed Heisler and Ed Heisler, Jr. have a family heritage in the food business. Heisler, Sr., who lives in Mt. Lebanon, said his grandparents were in the grocery store business. He also owns the Carrick Shop 'n Save store, and his sister owns the Castle Shannon Shop 'n Save. The Heisler family has also owned other stores in the Pittsburgh area since the 1950s.

Among the things that the Heislers have kept at their new McMurray market are the famous baked ham and ham salad, Bread Works bread as well as Bethel Bakery cakes, cookies and pastries. Like the Duckworths, they also have continued to keep the quality standards of the deli and meat department on a high level. The Heislers have realized that many area grocery shoppers had always preferred buying their meats and cheeses at the Dairy Bar rather than at the larger chain grocery stores. Heisler's Market continues to offer old Dairy Bar standards of fried chicken and tenders, potato and pasta salad, wings, homemade fries and mozzarella sticks.

A recent addition in the deli is a huge pizza oven that is fueled from both gas and wood. The pizza oven represents a huge investment by the Heislers to expand their restaurant-style food section. Noticeable are more tables and ongoing remodeling to give the dining area in front of the deli a more contemporary look.

They now offer daily menus with specials of the day that include chicken parmesan sandwiches, Italian stromboli, Italian grilled cheese, stuffed shells, garlic parmesan and Thai wings, fresh mixed vegetables, macaroni and cheese, jalapeno poppers and baked chicken.

Fresh-made soups like pasta fagiole, buffalo chicken chowder, stuffed pepper and potato will soon be available at a brand new salad bar in the restaurant area.

Heisler's carries over the Dairy Bar tradition of being open 7 days a week and distributing weekly special flyers to its customers.