Plans for more development along New Kensington’s Tarentum Bridge Road commercial district have been approved.

City council on Monday unanimously approved three resolutions related to the construction of a Harbor Freight tools store and a Starbucks cafe in Riverview Plaza.

Their construction follows a new Aldi grocery store, which opened in March in the plaza, replacing one that closed nearby in Lower Burrell.

Aldi was built, and Harbor Freight will be built, where Kmart stood for nearly 55 years. It closed in 2019 and was torn down in 2021.

“We were obviously concerned when Kmart closed, but we were fairly confident something good would happen because our Tarentum Bridge Road district should be very attractive to businesses,” Mayor Tom Guzzo said. “We were thrilled with Aldi building there, and we were happy that it happened as quickly as it did.”

Starbucks will be a free-standing building at the top of the parking lot between Donut Connection and First National Bank.

Council approved the redevelopment’s subdivision plan and sewage facilities planning modules, along with finding it in compliance with the city’s design guidelines.

Starbucks will open its 2,500-square-foot building in the spring, a spokesperson said. The company offered no additional information.

The Harbor Freight tools store will be nearly 16,000 square feet. It will be built across from Aldi in a corner of the plaza, where a car wash previously had been reviewed and approved for construction.

While Harbor Freight spokesman Craig Hoffman previously confirmed the company is looking to open a new location in New Kensington, he did not provide new information Tuesday.

Benard Reilly, president of Madison Acquisitions and representing developer 100 Riverview LP, did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The construction of the new retail stores will add to development along the busy Tarentum Bridge Road corridor.

In addition to Aldi, Clean Express Auto Wash opened in January 2022. Zen Leaf, a medical marijuana dispensary, opened in September 2022.

Construction of a Valvoline Instant Oil Change has been approved between Shamey’s gas station and the main entrance to Giant Eagle.

A new restaurant, Leo’s Roadhouse, opened in January inside the Quality Inn.

Guzzo said everyone he talks to is eagerly awaiting the opening of Harbor Freight and that Starbucks is incredibly popular.

“Attracting major business such as these demonstrates the confidence they have in opening in our city. The addition of Leo’s Roadhouse Restaurant and Valvoline really complements everything that is going on there,” he said.

“The success of our business districts, including Tarentum Bridge Road and downtown, continues to grow. We are going to keep working hard to attract businesses to the city of New Kensington.”

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.