Former Meier & Sons Hardware building to get 2 new tenants

John Meier & Sons Hardware in Murrysville was filled with tools from 1953 until its closing in 2022. Soon, it will be filled with tools for self-defense and improved physical performance.

The Murrysville branch of ATA Martial Arts, and Gallagher Performance will be the new tenants following a building-wide remodel by owner Fox Jr. Development.

“We’re putting a whole new facade on the building,” Jim Fox Jr. said. “The building’s already zoned for the new businesses. We did a walk-through (in October) on the ATA Martial Arts side and we’ll submit those drawings to Murrysville.”

Both tenants fall under the current mixed-used zoning, Fox Jr. said.

“Then we’ll occupy the back part of the building for some of our equipment,” he said.

Gallagher Performance has offered chiropractic, performance training, nutrition, massage and advanced sports medicine techniques at the Creekside Shoppes plaza on Route 22.

Co-owner Ryan Gallagher said he and his brother Sean were in need of more space.

“Our grandmother was a resident at Brookdale Senior Living (next door to the Meier building) and so we were driving past the hardware building a lot,” Gallagher said. “We looked into buying it when we found out someone had already done that. A client of ours who knew Jim Fox Jr. connected us, and it worked out nicely.”

Gallagher said the business will have more than twice the floor space to better meet clients’ needs.

“It’s a great opportunity to expand the capacity of our training,” he said.

Gallagher Performance is up and running in the new location.

“There are a few things we still need to get worked out, but we’re operational,” he said.

Grandmaster Michael Caruso, who operates two ATA Martial Arts locations, is looking to get into his new space in later December. He said classes in Murrysville have outgrown his current spot, next door to Applebee’s on Route 22.

“Our growth has been good in Murrysville, and I also represent another company, PPCT Management Systems, that contracts for training with three local p0lice departments,” Caruso said.

The new location will likely double the amount of space available for training.

“Our target date is the second week of January, and we’re planning for an open house and a grand opening,” Caruso said. “We’re going to be picking up about 2,000 aditional square feet. We’re going to probably add a few more classes each week, but the real upside will be new equipment and efficiency in training.”