Parkway Center Mall was an enclosed shopping center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It opened in 1982, closed in 2013, and mostly demolished in 2016.
Parkway Center Mall was constructed by Kossman Development and opened on November 4, 1982. 1 It was anchored by David Weis, Gold Circle, Giant Eagle, Thrift Drug, and Zayre. 2 Other tenants included Chi-Chi’s, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Kay-Bee Toys, Payless ShoeSource, and Radio Shack. 3 The mall was easily accessible from a dedicated ramp along Interstate 376. 4
The shopping center began developing foundation issues a few years after it was constructed, with cracks in the floors and walls that led to steel plates being fastened over the gaps. 3 5
Gold Circle merged with Richway in 1986, and the Parkway Center location was closed and converted into a Kmart. 3 Zayre closed in 1989 and was replaced by a Kaufmann’s clearance center, 6 7 and David Weis was shuttered in 1990 and the space was taken over by Phar-Mor in 1991. 8
In 1992, the Kaufmann’s clearance center closed, with a third of the space converted to CompUSA and the remainder being filled by the Syms Corporation. 9 The food court and arcade were closed in 1999, with the food court being converted into a dance studio and a drivers’ license office. 5
Syms and Phar-Mor closed in 2002, 10 11 and CompUSA moved to Robinson Town Centre. 12 By 2006, much of the Parkway Center Mall was vacant, with all tenants consolidated to the second floor after the first and third floors were closed to guests. 13 Kmart exited the shopping center in January 2013, 14 and within a month, all of the remaining interior tenants were closed or relocated. 13
With the exception of Giant Eagle, the Parkway Center Mall was vacant and work began in August 2016 to tear down the complex. 15
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Sources
- “Parkway Mall Now Open.” Pittsburgh Press, 4 Nov. 1982, p. S5.
- “Parkway Center Mall to open.” Beaver County Times, 3 Nov. 1982. p. D1.
- Widmer, Jeff. “Parkway Center Mall ready to close doors for final time.” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 6 Dec. 2012.
- “Green Tree exit ramps work starts.” Pittsburgh Press, 26 Dec. 1982. p. H6.
- Spatter, Sam. “Where does Parkway Center Mall’s future lie?” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 10 Jan. 2013.
- Gallagher, Jim. “Zayre to close 4 stores.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6 Dec. 1988. p. 17.
- “Kaufmann’s to open new clearance center.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4 Jan. 1990. p. 12.
- Iwanowski, Jay. “Empty David Weis mall space attracts Burlington, Phar-Mor.” Pittsburgh Business Times, 2 Sept. 1991.
- “Computer discounter coming.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2 Oct. 1992.
- “Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Business Briefs Column.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6 June 2002.
- “Phar-Mor(e) opportunities.” Pittsburgh Business Journal, 12 Aug. 2002.
- Schooley, Tim. “Parkway Center Mall could lose pair of anchor tenants.” Pittsburgh Business Times, 12 Oct. 2001.
- Leonard, Kim. “Mall insecurity.” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 10 May 2006.
- Spatter, Sam. “Where does Parkway Center Mall’s future lie?” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 10 Jan. 2013.
- Belko, Mark. “Parkway Center Mall’s demolition making way for new development.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12 Aug. 2016.
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Add Yours →Used to work in the Phar-Mor and Bugle Boy clothing there. Stopped up this weekend to see what eventually happened. You can still get in Giant eagle, and the door next to it for “Club Zoo” is still there, and through the crack you can see some busted floor tile and a golf cart.
The rest of the mall, including the road that lead to the tunnel, is covered in dirt and waste concrete.
I remember this mall. I used to always want to go there when I left Pittsburgh after seeing my aunts that lived there. When I would pass it leaving Pittsburgh I knew that I really was going home then. My one aunt did take me and my cousin there a few times when we used to spend a week out there when we were preteens and teenagers.
When I learned it closed it made me sad.