Denny Offstein’s presence is here to stay
Just about everyone in the Island neighborhood knows Denny Offstein has been a force for good for over 30 years; but as he cleans up his Hazel Street warehouse and prepares to retire, Offstein continues to make everything about the community.
Denny Offstein Auto Sales and Service was founded in 1992. It’s the same line of work his family has pursued for more than 100 years, since his grandfather fled Jewish persecution in Poland in the early 1920s.
Over time, his work has led him to collect thousands of equipment pieces and car parts.
Offstein, 78, decided to sell his property and the sea of equipment. Cleanup efforts have progressed to the point where the inside of Offstein’s business is almost unrecognizable. It’s had to go through an “environmental 1” and “environmental 2” study with the county to confirm none of the ground or surrounding area is contaminated, Offstein said.
Previously, Krill Recycling, of Clearfield Township, had spent several weeks removing 50 tons of items for recycling. Recently, Garvin Auto Salvage removed several hundred thousand pounds of equipment.
“We’ve taken out hundreds of thousands of pounds of scrap from this place to recycle,” said John Garvin of Garvin Auto Salvage. “There were so many engines and transmissions, maybe 400, 500 aluminum radiators, some brass copper. This is crazy for in a warehouse like this. We may have more weight with just cars at a yard, but this at a warehouse is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s unbelievable.”
Offstein, particular as ever with labeling and organizing, said Friday, Feb. 27, he has gone through phases in cleaning up the shop. Phase one included removing everything sitting outside for liquidation. Phase two includes liquidating all the metal sitting inside. Everything that can be recycled will be, he said.
“None of it is going to a landfill. All of this metal is going to be recycled,” Offstein said.
In addition to owning Denny Offstein Auto Sales & Service, some of Offstein’s biggest accomplishments include establishing a program to give thousands of free bikes away with the assistance of other local partners and raising funds for the city’s K9 police unit.
He’s been honored by community members and politicians from both parties, receiving various proclamations honoring his community service. Over time, he’s received the key to the city from five different mayors.
Offstein was married to his wife, Joyce, the sister of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, for over 30 years. Denny and Joyce were best friends, he said, before she passed away over 10 years ago.
Offstein said his own inability to have children due to illness from an early age was one of the reasons he was inspired to give back to the community’s children.
“This area, when I first bought this place, it was drug-infested. It was everywhere, out in the open. Drug dealers would set up business on the corner. It was unreal,” Offstein said. “There was all kinds of vandalism. I said to Joyce, ‘We’ve got to do something for the kids here.’”
In March 2021, Offstein was diagnosed with prostate cancer, in addition to other heart and colon issues, he said. Since then, he hasn’t been able to take the time to give out as many bikes as he once did.
Offstein’s talked with other businesses and government officials about potentially putting on one last bicycle rodeo. He still has hundreds of bikes that could be safety-checked and given away.
A member of Congregation B’nai Abraham synagogue in Butler, Offstein points to his Jewish faith as an influence for focusing on public service. Once he has retired, he said he hopes to spend more time volunteering with his synagogue in addition to continuing to volunteer in the community.
Offstein said he doesn’t know exactly what his future will look like.
“I’m going to do this liquidation and I’m going to sell the building and I’ll try and retire,” Offstein said. “I’ve worked since I was five, six years old. I don’t know how to retire, I’m a working guy. But I can only do so much.”
