Former Community Market in O'Hara will reopen as Goldfish Swim School

A long-vacant grocery store in Fox Chapel Plaza is making waves since the arrival of construction crews earlier this month.

When the former Community Market spot reopens at the corner of Freeport and Fox Chapel Roads, long gone will be aisles of produce and paper products.

In its place will be an 80-foot by 28-foot pool, making creative use of an indoor space within the retail shopping plaza in O’Hara.

Goldfish Swim School is a learn-to-swim facility for children ages four months to 12 years old.

“Our goal is to teach children to be safe in and around the water,” Owner Scott Payne said.

The national chain opened other Pittsburgh-region sites in Wexford in 2014 and in Peters two years later.

It's time to move forward with hope and jump into 2021 with both feet, inspired by the possibilities a new year brings. pic.twitter.com/u47DNTX0oK

— Goldfish Swim School (@GoldfishSwim) January 1, 2021

Payne said the program offers a confidence-building curriculum with a 4:1 student-teacher ratio in a “shiver-free” 90-degree heated pool.

Many facilities offer a viewing room for parents to watch while their children splash and swim.

Payne conceded to outside-the-box thinking when scouting a location to serve the Fox Chapel area.

“There is nothing easy about building out one of these facilities,” Payne said.

“It is no small task putting a swimming pool in a former Community Market but our architects are very creative with the types of layouts based on what’s available.”

The center, appointed in tropical colors of bright blue, yellow and orange, will use only a portion of the former grocery store. In all, the school will total 9,500-square feet.

Payne credited Fox Chapel Plaza owner Alex Condron for believing in the value of a swim school, and also expects builder Gus McCay will problem-solve issues that arise in this atypical location.

With construction just recently underway, Payne is hopeful to open before the second half of the year.

Goldfish Swim School was founded in Birmingham, Mich., in 2006 by Jenny and Chris McCuiston.

The program has grown to include more than 90 schools in 34 states and Canada.