Not every cancellation of a proposed store is big news. But the announcement by Kuhn's Market that it was dropping plans to build a full-service grocery in the Hill District was.

When the Hill House Association, the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority and Kuhn's Market announced a partnership to bring a quality grocery store to the neighborhood more than a year ago, it was hailed as the most serious attempt in decades to address a hole in the fabric of the community.

Residents on the Hill had even begun to count on it. A revival of sorts has been under way, sparked by the construction of the Penguins' arena in the lower Hill. Along with townhouses with great views and proximity to Downtown, there's nothing more appealing to potential urban homesteaders than being able to shop for groceries nearby.

The collapse of the Kuhn's deal is disappointing, but it doesn't mean the grocery project is dead. The Hill House Association, which secured $8.5 million for the site at Centre Avenue and Heldman Street, is already in talks with potential grocers to step into the breach.

After the initial drama from the failed deal has passed, it may be that only a few months will elapse before the Hill gets the project back on track. All the elements that would have made Kuhn's Market a successful venture, particularly community demand, are still in place for a new operator.

Like any good consumer, the Hill District will do well if it shops for its next store operator carefully.

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