Giant Eagle cites safety in changing hours of South Side location

Giant Eagle cited the safety of customers and employees in its decision to change the hours of its store on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

The company said it temporarily will be closing the store on Wharton Street an hour earlier, at 9 p.m.

“To more closely align with public safety efforts in the South Side while continuing to meet the needs of neighborhood residents, we made the decision to temporarily change the closing time of our South Side Giant Eagle from 10 p.m. nightly to 9 p.m.,” the company said in a statement.

Pittsburgh officials recently announced traffic and other restrictions on the South Side on weekend nights, intended to curb pedestrian and traffic congestion after weeks of overflowing sidewalks, gridlock and violence.

Giant Eagle said it does not know how long the change in hours at its South Side store will last.

“We continue to monitor all developments in the community and will regularly evaluate reinstating traditional store operating hours,” the company said.