Who we are
CharacterMatters was founded in 2017 by civic leader Marguerite O. Standish to promote development in the borough of Sewickley that honors longstanding guidelines for building in the historic district and surrounding area.
Today CharacterMatters is working to keep a full-service grocery store in the heart of the village, serving thousands of residents in the Sewickley Valley and providing the backbone of the retail district.
About CharacterMatters
Introduction & Mission
CharacterMatters is a community organization committed to enhancing Sewickley’s commercial district as part of an historic, walkable community.
Our immediate goal: To revitalize the grocery store in the heart of Sewickley to ensure that essential services—especially a community-oriented grocery store—remain viable and accessible
Why This Matters
• Community Anchor: The grocery store has served residents for over 40 years and provides essential services and jobs.
• Local Economy: A neighborhood grocery store brings steady foot traffic and supports surrounding small businesses. Loss of a grocery store will result in reduced foot traffic and follow-on reduced commercial rents/property values, and ultimately diminution of the quality that attracts people to Sewickley.
Avoiding Risk: Recent luxury condo developments have not produced promised economic or social benefits.
Resident Need: Many long-term residents, including seniors and families, rely on walkable access to food retail.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!