Washington Mall

Washington Mall, located in Washington, Pennsylvania, is a largely vacant shopping center. Demolition is planned for 2025.


Washington Mall, located in Washington, Pennsylvania, is a largely vacant shopping center. Demolition is planned for 2025.

History

Washington Mall opened on October 17, 1968, at a cost of $4 million. 1 4 8 The 663,000-square-foot indoor shopping center 2 was anchored by a three-level J.C. Penney with a freestanding auto center. Junior anchors included G.C. Murphy, Thorofare grocery store, and Giant Eagle. 9

The mall was expanded by 70,000 square feet in 1974 with 15 to 20 new tenants 23 and a two-screen Cinemette Theater on the west side of the complex. 21 22 In 1983, the mall’s operators acquired the adjacent Washington Plaza strip mall, which included a K-Mart store built in 1963. 22 24 Further expansion occurred in 1987 with the opening of a new 68,000-square-foot Giant Eagle—then the second largest in the chain and 3½ times the size of the existing store located on the opposite end of the mall—and an eight-screen Cinemette Theater located on an outlot. 21 22

In 1996, Staples opened in the space formerly occupied by the Marianne Shop. 10 Thompson Hardware closed in June 1997 and was later replaced by Dollar General. Pottery Factory Outlet ceased operations in February 1998. Giant Eagle closed in 1999 following its relocation to Strabane Square, though it continued to pay rent through 2001. 11 Afterthoughts and Altmeyer both closed in 1999. Carmike Cinemas vacated the mall on March 15, 2001; the building was later demolished in 2016. 12 13

In 2001, J.C. Penney began a partial remodel to add housewares and custom decorating departments. 11 That same year, REX Stores, D&K Stores, and Dollar General moved into the former Pottery Factory Outlet space.

A redevelopment plan announced in 2004 proposed partially demolishing the mall and converting it into an outward-facing shopping center. 2 14 Anchor tenants, such as J.C. Penney, Toys “R” Us, and Staples, were expected to remain open and face the parking lot. However, the plan was never realized due to a lack of financing.

In February 2007, J.C. Penney relocated to The Foundry at South Strabane. 4 Shortly after opening, the new store developed structural issues due to ground settling, as it had been built on a former mine dump. 5 The store closed on June 6, 2008, and J.C. Penney returned to its original location at Washington Mall in mid-September. This location remained in operation until February 2014, when it closed due to declining sales. 6 15

Jo-Ann Fabrics, the last remaining interior tenant, closed on July 25, 2014, after relocating to Washington Crown Center. 7 This effectively marked the closure of the mall’s interior.

Toys “R” Us closed in April 2018 due to the company’s bankruptcy. Its former space was later repurposed as a distribution center for Gabe’s department store until 2023. Staples closed in February 2024.

Redevelopment

The deteriorating Washington Mall has mainly remained vacant since its closure in 2014. In early 2025, Washington County commissioners announced that the mall would be razed using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, allocated through the county’s Blight Mitigation and Demolition Fund. 16 17

Costco is planned to be a major anchor of the redeveloped mall site. 18 19 This new Costco location is projected to be one of the largest in southwestern Pennsylvania, occupying a substantial portion of the redeveloped area. In addition to Costco, plans include a recreational vehicle dealership and service center on the premises of the former Toys ‘R Us and Giant Eagle stores. 19

Existing businesses such as Harbor Freight are relocating within the vicinity to facilitate these developments. 20 Harbor Freight plans to move near the Firestone and Popeye’s restaurant locations, allowing for the demolition of its current space within the mall complex. The relocation is part of a broader effort to prepare the site for new construction and attract additional retail and dining establishments. Demolition of the mall will commence in spring 2025.


Tenants

TenantTypeOpenedClosed
J. C. PenneyDepartment Store1968/20082007/2014
G. C. MurphyDepartment Store1968
AfterthoughtsFashion Accessories1999
AltmeyerApparel1999
American DentalMedical (Dental)
Amos Home ProductsHome Goods2000
AudiologicsMedical (Hearing)2005
Barbara’s HallmarkGifts/Cards
Baskin-RobbinsDining2001
Brackney LeatherApparel
Carpenter’s HomeHome Goods
Caumo’s SalonBeauty Salon
Cinemette Theater/Carmike CinemasEntertainment (Movie Theater)19742001
Citi FinancialBank
Claire’sFashion Accessories1999
D&K StoresApparel2001
Dean Diamond ImportersJewelery Store
Dollar GeneralDiscount Store
Dress BarnApparel
Eckerd DrugPharmacy
FirestoneAuto Service Center
Giant EagleGrocery Store19681999
Gift BasketGifts/Speciality
GigglesToys/Novelities
Gospel TreasuresReligious Items/Bookstore
H&R BlockTax Services
HaynesApparel
Health WorldHealth Products/Supplements
The Home Depot [Outparcel]Hardware Store
It’s About GamesEntertainment
Jerry’s Pet ShopPet Store
Jo-Ann FabricsCraft/Fabric Store2014
KC UniformsApparel
K-Mart [Outparcel]Discount Store
Image Exchange
Imperial CleaningDry Cleaners
King’s JeweleryJewelery Store
Kustom Korners
LA NailsNail Salon
Lang’sApparel
Magic City TravelTravel Agency
Marianne ShopApparel1996
Mikus Beauty SalonBeauty Salon
Mitchell’s Barber ShopBarber Shop
National Record MartMusic Store
Pap Pap’s Quality Ice Cream ParlorDining2001
Pastries by JohnDining
Payless ShoeSourceApparel (Shoes)
Pearle VisionMedical (Eyecare)
Pottery Factory OutletHome Decor1998
Props
Radio ShackElectronics
REX StoresElectronics, Appliances2001
Sally Beauty SupplyBeauty Supplies
Shoe SensationApparel (Shoes)
Shorty’s LunchDining
The Silver MineJewelry
Special OccassionFormalwear/Bridal
Speciality AssociatesMedical (Dental)
StaplesOffice Supply Store19962024
Sun TVElectronics
Thompson HardwareHardware Store1997
ThorofareGrocery Store1968
Toys “R” UsToy Store2018
Treasure Stop
Washington Better Hearing CenterMedical (Hearing)
Washington Federal BankBank


Sources

  1. “Washington Mall.” JJ Gumberg Co., 15 Mar. 2007.
  2. Smydo, Joe. “Mall traffic slows to crawl.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7 Apr. 2001.
  3. Smydo, Joe. “Some mall tenants may stay awhile.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 5 Dec. 2004.
  4. Taylor, Lynda Guydon. “J.C. Penney exit makes others at mall nervous.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 14 Jan. 2007.
  5. “J.C. Penney to reopen Washington mall site.” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 26 July 2008.
  6. “J.C. Penney to close 33 stores including Washington, Pa. store.” WPXI, 16 Jan. 2014.
  7. Shrum, Rick. “Jo-Ann Fabric move expected in July.” Observer-Reporter [Washington] 13 May 2014.
  8. “Dignitaries Open Washington Mall.” The Daily Notes, 17 Oct. 1968.
  9. “Washington Mall To Open Thursday.” Observer Reporter, 16 Oct. 1968.
  10. Chute, Eleanor. “Staples, Kohl’s proposed for site.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11 Aug. 1996.
  11. Smydo, Joe. “Mall traffic slows to a crawl.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7 Apr. 2001.
  12. Fitzpatrick, Dan. “Crown American, Gumberg weigh mall, power center. South Strabane’s Route 19 stretch is a retail speculator’s hotspot.” Pittsburgh Business Times, 20 Jun. 1997.
  13. Washington Mall; Washington, Pennsylvania.” Labelscar, 13 July 2006.
  14. Smydo, Joe. “Some mall tenants may stay awhile.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 5 Dec. 2004.
  15. “Here’s A List Of The J.C. Penney Stores That Are Closing.” The Huffington Post, 15 Jan. 2014.
  16. Hiles, Barbara S. “County Helping to Demolish Washington Mall to Spur New Development.” Observer-Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025.
  17. “Former Washington Mall Will Be Demolished This Spring to Make Room for New Businesses.” WPXI, 20 Feb. 2025.
  18. “Costco to Bring Hundreds of Jobs to Washington County.” CBS Pittsburgh, 15 Mar. 2025.
  19. “Washington Mall Demolition to Clear Way for Redevelopment.” CBS Pittsburgh, 25 Mar. 2025.
  20. Hiles, Barbara S. “Harbor Freight Moving to Make Way for Washington Mall Redevelopment.” Observer-Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025.
  21. Templeton, David. “Second mall developer predicts building race.” The Pittsburgh Press, pp. W1-W6.
  22. “$6 Million Expansion Will Make Washington Mall Bigger and Better!” The Pittsburgh Press, 12 Oct. 1986, p. W30.
  23. “Washington Mall Expands.” The Pittsburgh Press, 24 Feb. 1974, p. F1.
  24. “Department Store Fire Damage Near $7 Million.” Warren Times-Mirror and Observer, 6 Mar. 1967, p. 1.

3 Comments

  1. October 9, 2011
    Reply

    Hello,

    I'm looking into buying this and other abandoned properties, is there any possible I could get the address to this property?

    Thanks,

    Robert

    • Marie
      January 12, 2024
      Reply

      Hey Robert, been a while never got you’re response huh? Hope life’s all good.

Leave your comment!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.