Century III Mall evicts remaining tenants after sprinkler system failure*

Started by retailisking, February 07, 2019, 09:53:42 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

retailisking

The sprinkler system needs to be fixed (*thread title modified to reflect latest development downthread)
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/money/2019/02/06/Century-III-Mall-unsafe-uninhabitable-structure-west-mifflin-borough/stories/201902060142

mixedday

Something similar happened with Burlington Center Mall in NJ, with coincidental same ownership. Cold winter weather led to a burst water pipe which forced the interior of the mall to close. A Bath & Body Works was still operating until that day but had to close and move out it's inventory.

Sears kept it's anchor store after, but eventually closed the store. The mall is now pending in a sale to new owners and demolition for an industrial development.

TheFugitive

My guess is that Century III's owner has the heat cranked WAY down since
the mall is nearly vacant.  We had a snap of sub-zero temperatures last week.

There was a prior water main break there a couple of years ago.  The contractors
who showed up to fix that one claim they have never been paid.

I see that they have turned the lights back on in the abandoned parking structure
behind the former Sears and Lazarus locations.  Must have read my posts about how
keeping that area dark invites the criminal element to camp there.


danfifepsu


TheFugitive

Quote from: danfifepsu on February 08, 2019, 02:33:48 PM
Quote from: TheFugitive on February 08, 2019, 02:07:00 PM
Apparently the Mayor of West Mifflin, where Century III is located, is not impressed.

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/02/06/west-mifflin-borough-century-iii-mall-condemned/


I wonder when that mall will just call it a day?

Could be real soon.  This incident will likely cause the 12 remaining tenants to think
seriously about getting out before something really unsafe happens.

mixedday

I kind of think that the comic book store likes being in one of the deadest malls in a remote part away from JCPenney entrance. The curiosity one can imagine that might happen increases it's base maybe.

TheFugitive

Interestingly a comic book store was also one of the last tenants to leave
Parkway Center Mall when it closed in 2013.

TheFugitive

More intrigue at America's #1 Zombie Mall.

https://www.wtae.com/article/century-iii-mall-was-sold-then-it-wasnt-west-mifflin/26311042

Apparently the mall's website announced that the mall had been sold.
And then the announcement was taken down.

It's looking more and more like the mall's fire suppression system is toast,
the owners don't have money to fix it, and they are scrambling.

The end, it appears, is indeed very near.

danfifepsu

Quote from: TheFugitive on February 13, 2019, 03:30:03 PM
More intrigue at America's #1 Zombie Mall.

https://www.wtae.com/article/century-iii-mall-was-sold-then-it-wasnt-west-mifflin/26311042

Apparently the mall's website announced that the mall had been sold.
And then the announcement was taken down.

It's looking more and more like the mall's fire suppression system is toast,
the owners don't have money to fix it, and they are scrambling.

The end, it appears, is indeed very near.

how long till the end?

TheFugitive

Quote from: danfifepsu on February 13, 2019, 04:02:50 PM
Quote from: TheFugitive on February 13, 2019, 03:30:03 PM
More intrigue at America's #1 Zombie Mall.

https://www.wtae.com/article/century-iii-mall-was-sold-then-it-wasnt-west-mifflin/26311042

Apparently the mall's website announced that the mall had been sold.
And then the announcement was taken down.

It's looking more and more like the mall's fire suppression system is toast,
the owners don't have money to fix it, and they are scrambling.

The end, it appears, is indeed very near.

how long till the end?

I guess as soon as the 12 remaining tenants realize that the sprinklers aren't getting fixed any time soon and they either close their businesses or bug out.

TheFugitive

Mark it down.  The end of Century III came on Saturday, February 16, 2019.
All tenants were told they have 30 days to vacate.

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

I think the last straw was the Mayor of West Mifflin calling the owners of the mall a
lying sack of so-and-so and expressing the desire for them to just go away.   It is clear
that the mall was going to get regular building inspection colonoscopies from the borough
until the owners did just that.