Parkway Center Mall Explained

Parkway Center Mall
Location:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Address:Parkway Center Drive
Closing Date:2013 (demolished 2016, except for Giant Eagle with Kmart location above it)
Developer:Kossman Development
Manager:Kossman Development
Number Of Stores:80 at peak
Number Of Anchors:5 at peak
Floor Area:500000square feet
Floors:2 (2016-) (Giant Eagle on lower floor with former Kmart above it)
3 (1985-2016)

Parkway Center Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1982, the mall closed in 2013 after losing Kmart, its last anchor store. The only remaining store in operation is a Giant Eagle supermarket. In 2016, the entirety of the mall was demolished, except for the Giant Eagle building with the vacant former Kmart space above it.[1]

History

Kossman Development opened Parkway Center Mall on November 4, 1982.[2] Original anchor stores included Gold Circle, Giant Eagle, Zayre, Thrift Drug, and a David Weis catalog showroom.[3] Other major tenants included Chi-Chi's, K·B Toys, RadioShack, Payless ShoeSource, and Jo-Ann Fabrics.[4] An exit from Interstate 376 was built specifically to service the mall.[5]

In 1986, Gold Circle became Kmart. Shortly thereafter, the foundation shifted, resulting a crack in the floor that ran the length of the store. 8adj=onNaNadj=on wide steel plates were used to cover it.[4]

Zayre closed in 1989 along with three other stores in the area.[6]

In 1990, David Weis closed, and its space would become a Phar-Mor a year later.[7] Also in 1990, the former Zayre became a Kaufmann's clearance center.[8]

By 1992, the clearance store was closed, and one-third of its space was converted to a CompUSA.[9] The rest later became Syms Corporation.

In 1997, Thrift Drug became Eckerd when the latter bought out the chain.

In 1999, the arcade and food court were closed, with the latter later converted to a dance studio and a drivers' license office.[10]

In 2002, Syms and Phar-Mor both closed.[11] [12] CompUSA moved to Robinson Town Centre.[13]

By 2006, the center was largely vacant, with all tenants consolidated to the second floor after the first and third floors were closed to traffic.[14] The mall building also had foundation issues that caused it to shake as the building settled on the fill dirt on which it was built. Some of the vibrations were caused by truck traffic passing by on the nearby Interstate.[10]

Kmart announced its closure in late 2012, with its last day of operation on January 6, 2013.[10] After this closure, the last remaining tenants were shuttered or relocated within the month,[4] including GNC, a sports apparel store, a nail salon, a martial arts studio, and an optician.[15]

In August 2016, the mall began to undergo demolition.[16]

As of February 2019, the mall had been completely demolished except for the building housing Giant Eagle and formerly Kmart. Small hollow chunks of the mall still remained on the back and side of the building, covered by corrugated metal siding.

External links

40.423°N -80.036°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parkway Center Mall developer plans large changes after loss of Kmart. Lindeman. Teresa F.. October 11, 2012. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2013-05-06.
  2. Web site: The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com. 2018-04-05.
  3. News: Parkway Center Mall to open. November 3, 1982. Beaver County Times. 2013-05-06.
  4. Web site: Parkway Center Mall ready to close doors for final time. Widmer. Jeff. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. December 6, 2012. 2013-05-06.
  5. News: Green Tree exit ramps work starts. December 26, 1982. The Pittsburgh Press. 2013-05-06.
  6. News: Zayre to close 4 stores. Gallagher. Jim. December 6, 1988. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2013-05-06.
  7. Web site: Empty David Weis mall space attracts Burlington, Phar-Mor. Iwanowski. Jay. September 2, 1991. Pittsburgh Business Times. 2013-05-06.
  8. News: Kaufmann's to open new clearance center. January 4, 1990. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2013-05-06.
  9. News: Computer discounter coming. October 2, 1992. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2013-05-06.
  10. Web site: Where does Parkway Center Mall's future lie?. Spatter. Sam. January 10, 2013. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 2013-05-06.
  11. Web site: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Business Briefs Column. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070628/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-86815138.html. dead. 2016-03-04. June 6, 2002. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2013-05-06.
  12. Web site: Phar-Mor(e) opportunities. August 12, 2002. Pittsburgh Business Journal. 2013-05-06.
  13. Web site: Parkway Center Mall could lose pair of anchor tenants. Schooley. Tim. October 12, 2001. Pittsburgh Business Times. 2013-05-06.
  14. Web site: Mall insecurity. Leonard. Kim. May 10, 2006. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 2013-05-06.
  15. Web site: Parkway Center Mall to lose Kmart. Spatter. Sam. September 26, 2012. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 2013-05-06.
  16. Web site: Parkway Center Mall's demolition making way for new development. post-gazette.com. 2018-04-05.