Dargate Auction Gallery Moves To The Rocks

New home in former sanctuary of St. Mark Slavish Roman Catholic Church

Dargate Auction Gallery had to move more than 10,000 square feet of art and antiques when they moved from North Point Breeze to the former St. Mark Slavish Roman Catholic Church on Munson Avenue in McKees Rocks.  It was a herculean task .... One marble sculpture weighed 800 pounds as did a marble fireplace.

Taris Vrcek, executive director of the McKees Rocks Community Development Corp., pointed Dargate toward the closed Catholic church that was owned by its neighbor, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.  The inside had the look of a museum because of its pillars, curves and its ceiling.  It was a perfect setting for the Gallery.

At present, new wheelchair-accessible bathrooms have been installed, along with new signage and emergency lighting.  A sign out front directs visitors to a wheelchair ramp and leads to the passenger elevator.  With the former church and rectory, Dargate now has about 15,000 square feet of space.  Renovations to the rectory will be made over time.

The Rev. Tom Soroka, pastor of St. Nicholas, said parish members made a decision three years ago to stay and do literally everything they could to transform the neighborhood.  Dargate's arrival turns out to be the beginning of their vision to revitalize the "Bottoms".

McKees Rocks has a population of 6,100 according to the 2010 census.  The Bottoms are accessed by the McKees Rocks Bridge, the longest span in Allegheny County.  Dargate owner Dan Zivko says the neighborhood reminds him of Coventry, an artsy section of Cleveland's East Side that has book shops, music stores, fashionable boutiques and restaurants.  Noting that his brother is a chef, he said he has been looking at other neighborhood property with an eye toward opening a restaurant years from now.

Mr. Vrcek believes the Bottoms can become a magnet, noting that 22,000 vehicles cross the McKees Rocks Bridge daily.  He knows the neihborhood well because his paternal grandparents emigrated from Croatia and ran the V&R Lounge as well as Vrcek's Restaurant on Helen Street.

"You have committed lifelong residents here.  You have newcomers and the first wave of what we call pioeers," said Mr Vrcek.

Sounds like that could be the right recipe for success.

Dargate Auction Galleries

McKees Rocks

Metro Pittsburgh Real Estate