Parkway Center Mall
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| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| Address | Parkway Center Drive |
| Opening date | November 4, 1982 |
| Closing date | 2013 |
| Developer | Kossman Development |
| Management | Kossman Development |
| No. of stores and services | 1 |
| Total retail floor area | 500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) |
| No. of floors | 3 |
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.[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, Kay-Bee Toys, Radio Shack, Payless ShoeSource, and Jo-Ann Fabrics.[4] An exit from Interstate 376 was built specifically to service the mall.[5] Gold Circle became Kmart in 1986, and shortly thereafter, the foundation shifted resulting a crack in the floor that ran the length of the store. 8 inch wide steel plates were used to cover it.[4]
Zayre closed in 1989 along with three other stores in the area.[6] David Weis closed in 1990, and its space became 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 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]
Syms and Phar-Mor both closed in 2002,[11][12] and 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 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]
References
- ^ Lindeman, Teresa F. (11 October 2012). "Parkway Center Mall developer plans large changes after loss of Kmart". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search
- ^ "Parkway Center Mall to open". Beaver County Times. 3 November 1982. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ a b c Widmer, Jeff (6 December 2012). "Parkway Center Mall ready to close doors for final time". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ "Green Tree exit ramps work starts". The Pittsburgh Press. 26 December 1982. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ Gallagher, Jim (6 December 1988). "Zayre to close 4 stores". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ Iwanowski, Jay (2 September 1991). "Empty David Weis mall space attracts Burlington, Phar-Mor". Pittsburgh Business Times. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ "Kaufmann's to open new clearance center". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 4 January 1990. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ "Computer discounter coming". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2 October 1992. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ a b c Spatter, Sam (10 January 2013). "Where does Parkway Center Mall's future lie?". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Business Briefs Column". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 6 June 2002. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ "Phar-Mor(e) opportunities". Pittsburgh Business Journal. 12 August 2002. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ Schooley, Tim (12 October 2001). "Parkway Center Mall could lose pair of anchor tenants". Pittsburgh Business Times. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ Leonard, Kim (10 May 2006). "Mall insecurity". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ Spatter, Sam (26 September 2012). "Parkway Center Mall to lose Kmart". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 6 May 2013.