Contractor Ken Milligan works at the Pillow Street building that formerly housed Travaglio Electric Service. Leonard Walkowiak of Penn Township has purchased the property and is updating it. A former teacher in the Fox Chapel School District, Walkowiak said he was attracted by the property's location.

The building at 110 Pillow St. has looked well used, as any establishment that has been home to a 74-year-old business would.

But Leonard Walkowiak is changing that.

The new owner of the former Travaglio Electric Service shop, Walkowiak has his crew working to update the store as well as the newer brick building on the corner of Pillow and West Cunningham streets for sale or lease to commercial ventures.

The building also has three apartments for lease.

Walkowiak, a former economics and government teacher for the Fox Chapel School District, said he is an entrepreneur and the Travaglio building's location is what caught his eye.

"This is the second busiest intersection in Butler, with The Medicine Shoppe, the Papa John's pizza place and the plaza across the street. It's a great location," he said.

The renovated baseball field at Pullman Park also played a small role in Walkowiak's interest.

The original Travaglio shop still features a tin ceiling, original window and wood flooring.

It was in this space that in 1935, after moving from Ambridge, Beaver County, to Butler, Guy Travaglio Sr., and his wife, Christine, opened Travaglio Electric Service, where Guy Sr., repaired washers and dryers and other small appliances.

Christine Travaglio worked the store counter selling parts, running the office and serving as bookkeeper.Guy Travaglio Jr., his two brothers and some grandsons all helped with the store. Travaglio Jr. became a Butler radio personality and later a state representative.Guy Sr., died in October 1981 at age 83. His wife continued to run the business, selling parts for washers, dryers, sweepers, dishwashers, stoves and other appliances for 20 more years until her death in September 2001.Just before her death, she was working to bring the business into the 21st century, learning how to use computers to order and track appliance parts.After her death, the family closed the shop. On July 17, it was sold to Walkowiak.Walkowiak and his wife, Diane, a retired school teacher at Center Avenue Elementary in Butler, live in Penn Township.He said renovations should be completed by mid September or early October.

Guy Sr. and Christine Travaglio stand on the steps of Travaglio Electric Service at 110 Pillow St. in the 1930s. The store remained opened until 2001. The building was sold in July to Leonard Walkowiak.