Wall collapse sends bricks, bike parts tumbling at East End shop

A rear wall at an East End bike shop collapsed sometime overnight Friday, sending debris to the ground.

The collapse happened at Kraynick’s Bike Shop on Penn Avenue in Garfield. The rear of the business on Gem Way was affected.

That section of Gem Way was taped off late Friday morning, and Duquesne Light was in the process of disconnecting power.

Bricks and bicycle parts littered the ground, and bikes could be seen inside the shop through the gaping hole. A representative from the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections was on the scene.

Owners of the business could not immediately be reached for comment.

The collapse happened outside of the shop’s 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. business hours. No injuries were reported.

Maria Montano, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office, said the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections responded to the bike shop at 5003 Penn Ave. about 8 a.m. for a report of a wall collapse.

She noted that PLI issued a stop-work and violations order to the building next door, 5001 Penn Ave., for foundation undermining that affected Kraynick’s. That was in December, she said, which is when 5003 Penn Ave. was condemned. A court hearing for the violations is set for May 26.

According to the details of the violation, work that was being done at 5001 Penn exposed part of the foundation of the Kraynick’s building. Enforcement officers ordered that all work be stopped and a plan from a design professional had to be acquired.

That initial inspection was done Dec. 29, records show. When the violations remained a month later, a criminal complaint was filed against the building owner, Jason David Demarchi, for the violations.

Demarchi could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to Kraynick’s website: “Since 1946 — for the last 70 years — Kraynick’s bike shop has been a unique home for bike lovers of all likes.

“Visitors are encouraged to learn to work on their own bike, to discover the joy of self-empowered mechanical satisfaction. The shop doesn’t sell a service. It offers an experience.”