Century III Mall: 1980-2019

[TheFugitive]

I am creating a thread for this as it is kind of historic.

The long-anticipated end for Century III Mall came on Saturday, February 16 when the twelve
remaining tenants in the mall received letters informing them that their leases were being terminated
and that they had thirty days to vacate.

https://www.wtae.com/article/century-iii-mall-leases-terminated-tenants-told-they-have-30-days-to-vacate/26373533

The largest remaining business, a comic book store, has already made arrangements to relocate to
The Waterfront a few miles away.  Fans spent the weekend helping the owner pack-up for the big move.

The interior of the mall had been closed for over a week following a fire inspection during which local officials discovered that the mall's sprinkler system was not operable.  From all appearances it would seem that the cost of getting it working again exceeds whatever profits the owners could hope to suck from the dying mall.

Two anchor stores that have exterior entrances, Dick's Sporting Goods and JC Penney, will remain open for the time being as they can operate as stand-alones and have their own fire suppression systems up and running.
I can not imagine this situation will be tenable for Dick's for very long, as you have to drive around a dead, decaying mall to get to their entrance, which is not readily visible from main roads.

JC Penney by contrast is the most visible store in the mall, but employees have been telling local reporters they've heard that the store will be closing sometime this year.

Relations between the mall ownership and local officials had gone from strained to testy to downright hostile.  The Mayor of West Mifflin ,where the mall sits, ripped them recently for the poor condition of the property and for repeatedly being lied to whenever he made inquiries on subjects involving the mall.  The ring roads around it are in deplorable condition, and at night it is mostly darkened, which creates a bad public safety situation for the other businesses and residents.

Rumors are alive again that UPMC is eyeing the mall site for a new hospital.
If true that could explain why West Mifflin officials decided to flex their building inspection muscles
to force the mall owners to make a decision.

At the time of it's 1980 ribbon cutting Century III was the largest mall in the United States
in terms of square footage.  It was constructed and originally owned by the Edward DeBartolo Corp.
of Youngstown, Ohio.  The mall is sited on a former slag dump south of Pittsburgh.

[danfifepsu]

I am creating a thread for this as it is kind of historic.

The long-anticipated end for Century III Mall came on Saturday, February 16 when the twelve
remaining tenants in the mall received letters informing them that their leases were being terminated
and that they had thirty days to vacate.

https://www.wtae.com/article/century-iii-mall-leases-terminated-tenants-told-they-have-30-days-to-vacate/26373533

The largest remaining business, a comic book store, has already made arrangements to relocate to
The Waterfront a few miles away.  Fans spent the weekend helping the owner pack-up for the big move.

The interior of the mall had been closed for over a week following a fire inspection during which local officials discovered that the mall's sprinkler system was not operable.  From all appearances it would seem that the cost of getting it working again exceeds whatever profits the owners could hope to suck from the dying mall.

Two anchor stores that have exterior entrances, Dick's Sporting Goods and JC Penney, will remain open for the time being as they can operate as stand-alones and have their own fire suppression systems up and running.
I can not imagine this situation will be tenable for Dick's for very long, as you have to drive around a dead, decaying mall to get to their entrance, which is not readily visible from main roads.

JC Penney by contrast is the most visible store in the mall, but employees have been telling local reporters they've heard that the store will be closing sometime this year.

Relations between the mall ownership and local officials had gone from strained to testy to downright hostile.  The Mayor of West Mifflin ,where the mall sits, ripped them recently for the poor condition of the property and for repeatedly being lied to whenever he made inquiries on subjects involving the mall.  The ring roads around it are in deplorable condition, and at night it is mostly darkened, which creates a bad public safety situation for the other businesses and residents.

Rumors are alive again that UPMC is eyeing the mall site for a new hospital.
If true that could explain why West Mifflin officials decided to flex their building inspection muscles
to force the mall owners to make a decision.

At the time of it's 1980 ribbon cutting Century III was the largest mall in the United States
in terms of square footage.  It was constructed and originally owned by the Edward DeBartolo Corp.
of Youngstown, Ohio.  The mall is sited on a former slag dump south of Pittsburgh.

I last went in that mall in 2008 and recall it having empty stores then. how long was the mall dying?

[TheFugitive]

Century III suffered two blows in the mid-1990's.  One was a highly publicized rash of criminal activity involving youth gang members that were hanging out inside the mall.
That situation was brought somewhat under control (partially because county officials
rerouted certain bus routes away from the mall, a move that at the time was criticized as racist).  And the opening of the Waterfront development in Homestead, a couple of miles away.  I was very skeptical that The Waterfront would succeed as it was in a neighborhood that had been suffering from very serious crime issues.  But in the end it became a preferred, more upscale choice for shoppers from South and East Pittsburgh.

Federated Department Stores acquiring Kaufmann's after the turn of the 21st. Century landed another blow.  Kaufmann's and Lazarus became part of the same chain, costing Century III their Lazarus anchor tenant.  (Kaufmann's occupied the spot with a furniture outlet for a time, but it was largely a joke).

Restaurants started leaving the mall as Big Boy and Ground Round closed and Chick-fil-A moved out to their own location along Route 51 (for years the location inside Century III was the only Chick-fil-A in the area).  The mall experienced a slow, steady hemorrhage of stores as Old Navy, CVS, Steve and Barry's and Marshall's all left.   The death knell was the loss of Sears and Kaufmann's as anchors in rapid succession.  After Christmas, 2015 a large number of smaller tenants with leases expiring opted not to renew.

[danfifepsu]

Century III suffered two blows in the mid-1990's.  One was a highly publicized rash of criminal activity involving youth gang members that were hanging out inside the mall.
That situation was brought somewhat under control (partially because county officials
rerouted certain bus routes away from the mall, a move that at the time was criticized as racist).  And the opening of the Waterfront development in Homestead, a couple of miles away.  I was very skeptical that The Waterfront would succeed as it was in a neighborhood that had been suffering from very serious crime issues.  But in the end it became a preferred, more upscale choice for shoppers from South and East Pittsburgh.

Federated Department Stores acquiring Kaufmann's after the turn of the 21st. Century landed another blow.  Kaufmann's and Lazarus became part of the same chain, costing Century III their Lazarus anchor tenant.  (Kaufmann's occupied the spot with a furniture outlet for a time, but it was largely a joke).

Restaurants started leaving the mall as Big Boy and Ground Round closed and Chick-fil-A moved out to their own location along Route 51 (for years the location inside Century III was the only Chick-fil-A in the area).  The mall experienced a slow, steady hemorrhage of stores as Old Navy, CVS, Steve and Barry's and Marshall's all left.   The death knell was the loss of Sears and Kaufmann's as anchors in rapid succession.  After Christmas, 2015 a large number of smaller tenants with leases expiring opted not to renew.

was the Mall ever remodeled?

[TheFugitive]

was the Mall ever remodeled?

Once.  In 1995 or 96 I believe.  Skylights were cut into the ceiling.

[mixedday]

I am creating a thread for this as it is kind of historic.

The long-anticipated end for Century III Mall came on Saturday, February 16 when the twelve
remaining tenants in the mall received letters informing them that their leases were being terminated
and that they had thirty days to vacate.

https://www.wtae.com/article/century-iii-mall-leases-terminated-tenants-told-they-have-30-days-to-vacate/26373533

The largest remaining business, a comic book store, has already made arrangements to relocate to
The Waterfront a few miles away.  Fans spent the weekend helping the owner pack-up for the big move.

The interior of the mall had been closed for over a week following a fire inspection during which local officials discovered that the mall's sprinkler system was not operable.  From all appearances it would seem that the cost of getting it working again exceeds whatever profits the owners could hope to suck from the dying mall.

Two anchor stores that have exterior entrances, Dick's Sporting Goods and JC Penney, will remain open for the time being as they can operate as stand-alones and have their own fire suppression systems up and running.
I can not imagine this situation will be tenable for Dick's for very long, as you have to drive around a dead, decaying mall to get to their entrance, which is not readily visible from main roads.

JC Penney by contrast is the most visible store in the mall, but employees have been telling local reporters they've heard that the store will be closing sometime this year.

Relations between the mall ownership and local officials had gone from strained to testy to downright hostile.  The Mayor of West Mifflin ,where the mall sits, ripped them recently for the poor condition of the property and for repeatedly being lied to whenever he made inquiries on subjects involving the mall.  The ring roads around it are in deplorable condition, and at night it is mostly darkened, which creates a bad public safety situation for the other businesses and residents.

Rumors are alive again that UPMC is eyeing the mall site for a new hospital.
If true that could explain why West Mifflin officials decided to flex their building inspection muscles
to force the mall owners to make a decision.

At the time of it's 1980 ribbon cutting Century III was the largest mall in the United States
in terms of square footage.  It was constructed and originally owned by the Edward DeBartolo Corp.
of Youngstown, Ohio.  The mall is sited on a former slag dump south of Pittsburgh.

JCPenney might be looking for it's payout before it closes from the mall.

The Owings Mills Mall was about the same size as Century III. Just fancier inside, but it pretty much died nonetheless.

macy's got a $7.5 million payout from Kimco. Payout was good that it chose to close before the 2015 Holiday season (closed November 2015). JCPenney later settled and followed in Spring 2016 with $5.2 million. That seems to be a model that macy's and jcpenney are pursuing when they own their locations.

Maybe Dick's is also waiting, although it's location is smaller and less optimal. I'd assume it would relocate nearby afterwards.

[danfifepsu]

I am creating a thread for this as it is kind of historic.

The long-anticipated end for Century III Mall came on Saturday, February 16 when the twelve
remaining tenants in the mall received letters informing them that their leases were being terminated
and that they had thirty days to vacate.

https://www.wtae.com/article/century-iii-mall-leases-terminated-tenants-told-they-have-30-days-to-vacate/26373533

The largest remaining business, a comic book store, has already made arrangements to relocate to
The Waterfront a few miles away.  Fans spent the weekend helping the owner pack-up for the big move.

The interior of the mall had been closed for over a week following a fire inspection during which local officials discovered that the mall's sprinkler system was not operable.  From all appearances it would seem that the cost of getting it working again exceeds whatever profits the owners could hope to suck from the dying mall.

Two anchor stores that have exterior entrances, Dick's Sporting Goods and JC Penney, will remain open for the time being as they can operate as stand-alones and have their own fire suppression systems up and running.
I can not imagine this situation will be tenable for Dick's for very long, as you have to drive around a dead, decaying mall to get to their entrance, which is not readily visible from main roads.

JC Penney by contrast is the most visible store in the mall, but employees have been telling local reporters they've heard that the store will be closing sometime this year.

Relations between the mall ownership and local officials had gone from strained to testy to downright hostile.  The Mayor of West Mifflin ,where the mall sits, ripped them recently for the poor condition of the property and for repeatedly being lied to whenever he made inquiries on subjects involving the mall.  The ring roads around it are in deplorable condition, and at night it is mostly darkened, which creates a bad public safety situation for the other businesses and residents.

Rumors are alive again that UPMC is eyeing the mall site for a new hospital.
If true that could explain why West Mifflin officials decided to flex their building inspection muscles
to force the mall owners to make a decision.

At the time of it's 1980 ribbon cutting Century III was the largest mall in the United States
in terms of square footage.  It was constructed and originally owned by the Edward DeBartolo Corp.
of Youngstown, Ohio.  The mall is sited on a former slag dump south of Pittsburgh.

JCPenney might be looking for it's payout before it closes from the mall.

The Owings Mills Mall was about the same size as Century III. Just fancier inside, but it pretty much died nonetheless.

macy's got a $7.5 million payout from Kimco. Payout was good that it chose to close before the 2015 Holiday season (closed November 2015). JCPenney later settled and followed in Spring 2016 with $5.2 million. That seems to be a model that macy's and jcpenney are pursuing when they own their locations.

Maybe Dick's is also waiting, although it's location is smaller and less optimal. I'd assume it would relocate nearby afterwards.

still the old Toys r us or Kmart is big enough.

I am surprised this mall got remodeled as its so dead. and also, JC PENNY is looking to close stores, this is likely next .

[TheFugitive]

A friend of mine who lives near this mall says that he was told by somebody at Dick's
that they will be moving into the former K-mart store on PA Route 51, about half a mile
to the south.

[Amesguy2000]

Is the Kmart Standalone. Or in a shopping center type plaza like some are?

[TheFugitive]

The Kmart is in a very small plaza in which it is by far the largest tenant.

Down at the far end is a physical therapy place and a Dollar General store
(one of the weirdest ones I have ever seen.  Extremely dark, with narrow aisles,
and all of the merchandise is on wire racks instead of shelving).

Behind it is a restaurant that was originally Hoss' Steak and Seafood.
That closed some time back.  A couple of other restaurants briefly tried to
make a go of it there and failed.

[TheFugitive]

A judge has granted the owners of Century III a request to terminate
the lease of Dick's Sporting Goods.

https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2019/03/07/century-iii-owner-to-reject-lease-for-dicks-store.html

All of the internal mall tenants have already been told to vacate.
That leaves J.C. Penney.  I suspect that they are on the top-secret list of
Penney's stores that are closing and that the mall will be officially closed soon.

[mixedday]

JCPenney actually has a bigger footprint in the Pittsburgh market relative to Philly. They have 8 stores within 35 miles of Pittsburgh, which I guess is impressive given Pittsburgh market's smaller population.

Does it mean anything though? At least in Philly area, JCPenney is totally outflanked by macys and boscov's in the full scale department store category, and competitors like Kohl's and Burlington have them beat for mid-range. I've always wondered if it is stronger in other markets, wherever those exist, if it should just focus on those.

Specifically to Century III, if that store is breaking even and no external entity is buying up the real estate, JCPenney could keep that store open while the rest of the mall is demolished. The store though seemed old and needed some renovations.

[TheFugitive]

The Century III Penneys is the only one remaining in the South Hills area.
Traffic patterns in this town are notoriously segmented due to bridges, tunnels, etc.

[TheFugitive]

Dick's has announced that their Century III store will close on March 30.

https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/dicks-closing-anchor-store-at-nearly-vacant-century-iii-mall-in-west-mifflin/

They had little choice.  The road around the mall is so badly maintained at this point that you risk major damage to your car trying to get to them.

No mention made of any prospective move to the former Kmart down the road.

[TheFugitive]

WPXI-TV is reporting today that all entrances to Century III except for
the outside entrances to J.C. Penney have been boarded up.

I was in Penney's just a few days ago.  The gate was permanently shut to the
lower level mall entrance, allowing you to peer out into the creepy, dark, deserted
mall.

Penney's had cordoned off the area around the upstairs mall entrance for additional
storage space, creating a false front wall around that.  I guess after JCP dropped
large appliance sales they no longer needed that space.

[TheFugitive]

More on the boarding-up of Century III.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/century-iii-mall-owners-board-property