The business climate in McKees Rocks has experienced a sudden warming trend this summer and the pattern is continuing into the fall.

A number of high-profile commercial properties have been sold, and new stores and businesses are moving in, while some already established stores are moving to new locations within the borough.

"It's a big plus for McKees Rocks," said Mayor Jack Muhr, who outlined the series of projects that is sparking a renewal of the McKees Rocks business community.

One of the biggest real-estate transactions took place on Aug. 22, when Richard Paul, owner of the McKees Rocks Plaza, the borough's largest shopping center, closed a deal to sell the Plaza to Trinity Commercial Developers.

The new owners plan to refurbish the Plaza, add a new facade, and bring in new tenants.

A formal groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 26.

County Executive Dan Onorato and County Councilman Michael Finnerty, the mayor, borough officials and Veterans of Foreign Wars representatives will attend.

One possible new tenant being considered is a lower cost-grocery story such as an Aldi's or a Save-A-Lot. The grocery store would move into the space being vacated by the Pop and Beer Tobacco Outlet store.

Pop and Beer is planning to move into the space vacated by the former Eckerd Drug Store, now a Rite Aid.

The drug store's customers won't be left out in the cold, though.

The Rite Aid at 821 Chartiers Avenue, several blocks from the Plaza, will move to a larger, new store to be constructed on the site of the former Wendy's in the parking lot of the Plaza.

The Wendy's has been demolished and work is already under way to build the Rite Aid.

A drive-through pharmacy and some produce items will be available at the new Rite Aid.

"Residents won't have to go outside the borough for drive-through convenience when they buy their prescriptions," said Mr. Muhr, who also likes the idea of produce being available.

Many of the long-term tenants of the Plaza will stay. The Jim Crivelli Chevrolet dealership, one of the original tenants when the Plaza opened in 1965, will stay, as will Big Lots and the Wine and Spirits Shoppe.

The former Lincoln Savings Bank, now closed and vacant near the Plaza's Chartiers Avenue entrance, is being looked at as the possible site for a Dunkin Donuts, Mr. Muhr said.

The Donut shop would cater to local customers and to commuters from Kennedy and Moon who travel through McKees Rocks to avoid Parkway traffic on their daily commute to Downtown Pittsburgh.

But the new business activity is not limited to the McKees Rocks Plaza.

At the intersection of Chartiers and Island avenues, a new business called Subs and Suds will be opening at the site of the former Crossroads convenience store and gas station.

Subs and Suds will feature sandwiches and beer and will seat about 38 customers, but all the beer sold will be for takeout only.

The new store will be across the street and a few storefronts up from Hollowood Sound Store, which returned this year to McKees Rocks after what proved a temporary relocation to the Pointe in North Fayette. Hollowood moved to North Fayette after the store was damaged in the Hurricane Ivan flood in 2004.

The Jenny Lee Bakery Store on Island Avenue near the McKees Rocks Bridge also reopened this year after a Thanksgiving Day fire closed the store last year.

A little farther up Island Avenue from the Jenny Lee store, the former BP station was recently purchased by North Hills developer Milo Ritton, co-owner of MIRRIC Reality, who has converted the store into a Fueland gas station and convenience store.

The concept of the Fueland stores is similar to the Get-Go stores started by Giant Eagle. Shoppers at Foodland grocery stores receive a discount on fuel based on the amount they spend on groceries.

Many McKees Rocks residents shop at the Foodland grocery store at 1100 Chartiers Avenue and Mr. Muhr said he is happy Fueland will enable residents to receive discounts on their gasoline purchases without having to shop outside the borough.

This will be Mr. Ritton's second foray into development in McKees Rocks. In 2000, he purchased the Foodland building on Chartiers Avenue with the intention of opening an Advance Auto Parts store, a retail store, and a smaller grocery store on the property.

Many residents rallied, however, to save the Foodland. More than a hundred people jammed a McKees Rocks council meeting at the time to voice support for Foodland, and they presented a petition to council with about 2,000 signatures requesting that the Foodland stay.

Mr. Ritton offered to let Foodland stay and to subdivide the building between Foodland and Advance Auto Parts, but Foodland's operators, Ronald Fischer and Joseph Krobot, said a smaller store wouldn't be viable.

Finally, a deal was struck enabling Foodland to stay, with improvements made to the building and the store.

Mr. Muhr said he is glad that Mr. Ritton has decided to invest again in the community.

"He's a good developer with a proven track record. He owns 41 Fueland stores, and wants to expand in the borough," said Mr. Muhr.

He believes the borough offers a number of advantages to perspective developers.

"We're located only 3¹/₂ minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh. We're the western gateway to Pittsburgh. We're close to 79 and the airport," Mr. Muhr said.

He added that there are also 30 acres in the borough, along the Ohio River, the site of the former P&LE railroad yards, that he says could serve as a prime development spot for offices, retail, and housing.

"Not only is the property close to Downtown, but rents would be a lot cheaper than Downtown," he said.

He's also pleased that the new developments will bring in needed tax money for the borough, and make shopping more convenient for residents and out-of-town visitors.

"We've always had a compact business district. We're a walkable community," he said.