The Stark Hotel (now called Stark/James Building), established in 1889, quickly became an essential part of Greensburg's hospitality landscape, catering to an influx of new visitors. These included “drummers,” or traveling salesmen, who would rent rooms at the Stark, secure livery from one of the many stables in town, and head out to surrounding communities to sell goods to company stores, rural residents, and even door-to-door.
Greensburg's growth as a cultural hub also contributed to the hotel's success. New opera houses and theaters drew traveling troupes and theater patrons, further driving demand for accommodations. The increased activity at the Westmoreland County Courthouse similarly spurred a need for additional lodging, and the Stark was well-positioned to meet that demand.
Over the years, the Stark Hotel underwent several name changes. Originally opened as the "Stark Hotel," it was renamed the "Merchants Hotel" sometime after World War I. In 1951, it was rebranded as "The New Merchants Hotel." Through the 1950s and 1960s, until its eventual closure, the hotel functioned primarily as a rooming house, reflecting shifts in the local economy and travel patterns.
The transformation of the Stark Block began in 1996, when the Werrin Family generously donated the office building at 33 West Otterman Street to the Westmoreland Trust. Then, in the fall of 2000, the owners of the adjacent Stark Building approached the Trust with an offer to sell. After careful evaluation of the building's historical value and alignment with the Trust's mission, the Board of Directors approved the purchase in 2001. Extensive renovations followed, reviving two largely underused buildings into what is now known as the Stark Block—a revitalized asset contributing to the vibrancy of downtown Greensburg.
Prominent tenants include the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County/The Pittsburgh Foundation, Lawyers Abstract Company, WTAE, The Keenan Group and Tall Pines Distillery.
To request information on available commercial rental space, please contact operations@wctrust.net.
