Papa Joe’s Wine Cellar building added to Zelienople Historical Society registry
ZELIENOPLE — Patrons of Papa Joe’s Wine Cellar may notice a new addition as they enter the building — a plaque which was posted near the entrance by the Zelienople Historical Society on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
The plaque designates the Papa Joe’s building on Main Street as a historic structure, dating back to its days as a Pontiac dealership and gas station owned by the Harper family more than a century ago.
Longtime Zelienople Historical Society member Randall Hart said the society has a process for giving plaques to historic buildings in the borough which are both over 100 years old and have recently undergone a restoration.
“We have a process here in Zelienople where once a building makes it to 100 years, and it’s a significant building, then we award a ‘legacy’ or ‘preservation’ award to that building,” Hart said.
The building started life in 1905, when Harvey Harper Sr. constructed an auto service garage behind the house that was on the site. Eight years later, Harper demolished the house to make room for what would become a Pontiac dealership. Harper also placed a pair of pumps in front of the store and sold Atlantic-brand gasoline.
According to at least one source, Harper sold Pontiac automobiles to both country music star Gene Autry and Pirates star Ralph Kiner.
The Harper family business passed through four generations, eventually transitioning from a car dealership to a hardware store and, finally, to Bill Harper’s Outdoor Power, which primarily sold lawn mowers and other outdoor equipment. The business closed sometime before May 2022, when a liquidation auction was held.
This marks the 12th historic building in Zelienople to receive a plaque of dedication from the Historical Society. Prior to Wednesday night, the most recent was at the nearby Strand Theater, installed in July 2022.
Hart said the next plaque might not come for some time, as most of the century-old buildings in the borough have already been restored, and the management of other buildings are reluctant to restore theirs.
“It won’t be probably for another six or seven years until we hit the next rotation,” Hart said.
When the front of the property was transformed into Papa Joe’s Wine Shop in 2025, Ray Roccon — the building’s landlord — took great care to preserve the character of the original Harper’s building, Hart said.
“He completely restored everything on this piece of property and retained as many of the original elements as possible, which are steel I-beams and brick walls ... the list goes on and on,” Hart said.
In fact, one relic of the building’s past is still visible: the old Harper’s Power Equipment sign next to Papa Joe’s.
Other businesses are located in the building behind Papa Joe’s, including Northernness Coffee, Cafe Verde and Boutique Blue.
