Century III Mall
Former enclosed shopping mall in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, that operated from 1979 to 2019 and retained a final department-store tenant until 2020.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Century III Mall was a large enclosed shopping center on Route 51 in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, approximately ten miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. It was developed on land associated with a substantial steelmaking slag heap and became one of the Pittsburgh region’s most prominent retail projects after opening in phases between October 1979 and March 1980. Its name referred to the United States Bicentennial and the approaching third century of American history. The mall was conceived in 1976 as a joint venture between the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation and USS Realty Development, a United States Steel Corporation division. The proposed project represented an investment of approximately $100 million and was planned to contain roughly 1.6 million square feet. Its initial anchors were Kaufmann’s and JCPenney, followed by Montgomery Ward, Gimbels-Pittsburgh, and Sears. At its peak during the 1980s, Century III Mall contained more than 200 stores, services, and eateries and was described as the largest enclosed shopping center in the Pittsburgh tri-state area by store count. It was also promoted as one of the world’s largest shopping malls when it opened. The anchor lineup changed repeatedly. Montgomery Ward left in 1986 and its space was subsequently occupied by Horne’s, Lazarus, and later a Kaufmann’s and Macy’s furniture operation. Gimbels closed after its parent company entered bankruptcy in 1988; portions of the space were later used by TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Wickes Furniture, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and other retailers. Kaufmann’s became Macy’s in 2006, while Sears closed in 2014. JCPenney, the last original anchor to remain for most of the mall’s final years, closed in October 2020. Ownership and management also changed. The DeBartolo interests became associated with DeBartolo Realty, and the 1996 merger with Simon Property Group placed the mall under the Simon DeBartolo Group. Simon funded an approximately $8 million renovation completed around 1997, adding skylights and altering the center court. The property was later sold as Simon concentrated on stronger assets. After Simon defaulted on a reported $78 million loan in 2011, ownership transferred to lenders. Las Vegas-based Moonbeam Capital Investments LLC acquired the mall in 2013. From the late 1990s onward, Century III Mall faced intensifying competition from The Waterfront development in nearby Homestead and the renovated South Hills Village. Anchor departures, retailer bankruptcies, declining occupancy, and deferred maintenance accelerated the property’s deterioration. The mall was reportedly about 20 percent vacant by 2003, approximately 60 percent vacant by 2015, and close to 90 percent vacant by late 2017. The food court lost its final tenant in 2017, and the remaining restaurant closed in 2018. West Mifflin officials declared the mall unsafe and uninhabitable in February 2019 because of extensive code problems, including a nonfunctional sprinkler system and lack of heat. The remaining tenants were evicted, and the mall’s retail operation effectively ended in February 2019, although Dick’s Sporting Goods closed in March and JCPenney continued separately until October 2020. Proposed mixed-use redevelopment plans included retail, restaurants, entertainment, lodging, offices, and housing, but the plans did not produce an operating replacement before the property’s further decline. After abandonment, the site experienced vandalism, fires, safety incidents, legal disputes, and condemnation proceedings. A 2023 fire was determined to be arson, and West Mifflin Borough Council voted to condemn the property that July. Criminal nuisance charges were filed against the owners in January 2024. Demolition began on March 26, 2024, starting with the attached parking structure, followed by asbestos abatement and the dismantling of the mall building. Century III Mall therefore survives primarily as a case study in the rise and decline of large suburban enclosed shopping centers rather than as an active retail brand.
History
Century III Mall emerged from an ambitious redevelopment of industrial land in West Mifflin. USS Realty Development sought a productive use for a large slag dump locally known as Brown’s Dump, an artificial mountain formed through years of steel-industry waste disposal. Clearing and excavating the 410-acre tract took years and helped attract other businesses to the surrounding area. In 1976, USS Realty and the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation proposed a major enclosed shopping center costing about $100 million and containing approximately 1.6 million square feet. The project opened in stages. Its first phase was dedicated on October 24, 1979, with 75 stores anchored by two-level Kaufmann’s and JCPenney locations. A second phase opened on March 12, 1980, adding Montgomery Ward and additional specialty stores. Gimbels-Pittsburgh began trading in July 1980, and Sears opened in October, giving the complex five major anchors. The mall quickly became a dominant retail destination in the Pittsburgh region, with more than 200 stores and food-service businesses at its 1980s peak. Anchor turnover became a defining feature of the property. Montgomery Ward closed in 1986 and was replaced by Horne’s, which later became Lazarus and then a Kaufmann’s furniture gallery. Gimbels closed following bankruptcy in 1988, and its space passed through several retail uses. Kaufmann’s was converted to Macy’s in 2006, while the furniture operation also eventually adopted the Macy’s name. Sears closed in 2014, Macy’s closed in 2016, and JCPenney remained the final major retailer until October 2020. The mall’s decline reflected both structural retail changes and local competition. The Waterfront opened in nearby Homestead in 1999 and expanded over time, drawing customers away. South Hills Village, only a few miles west, underwent improvements that strengthened its appeal. As anchors and specialty retailers departed, vacancies increased. The property was already about one-fifth vacant by 2003, and its assessed value fell substantially during the following decade. Simon Property Group, which had acquired the DeBartolo interests through a 1996 merger, renovated the property around 1997 but later put it up for sale as it focused on higher-performing malls. Simon defaulted on a loan connected with the property in 2011, and ownership moved to lenders. Moonbeam Capital Investments acquired the mall in 2013. A double-decker carousel was installed in 2014, but the amenity did not reverse the broader decline. By 2015, vacancy was reported at roughly 60 percent. Macy’s announced its departure in January 2016, after which many other tenants left. Occupancy reportedly fell to about 10 percent by December 2017. The food court lost its final tenant in July 2017, and the last restaurant closed in April 2018. The mall’s final operational phase was marked by deteriorating physical conditions and uncertainty over redevelopment. A planned 2018 sheriff’s sale was postponed after a bankruptcy filing. In February 2019, officials found the property unsafe and uninhabitable because of numerous code violations, including a failed sprinkler system and no heat. Remaining tenants received eviction notices. Dick’s Sporting Goods closed in March 2019, and JCPenney—the final original anchor—closed in October 2020. Plans called for demolition, environmental remediation, and a mixed-use replacement containing retail, food, entertainment, hotel, office, and residential components. Those plans did not materialize before the abandoned structure suffered increasing vandalism and damage. A 2023 arson fire, a serious fall through a roof hatch, condemnation proceedings, and criminal nuisance charges intensified public pressure. Demolition commenced in March 2024, beginning with the parking structure and later moving to the mall itself. The property’s history illustrates the transformation of American suburban retail from large, anchor-led enclosed malls toward redevelopment, mixed-use sites, and other formats.
- 2024
Demolition begins
[1]The attached parking structure began to be demolished on March 26, followed by work on the mall structure after abatement.
- 2023
Condemnation proceedings
[1]After an arson fire and other safety incidents, West Mifflin officials voted to condemn the abandoned mall.
- 2020
Final tenant departs
[1]JCPenney closed on October 26, ending the mall’s remaining retail presence.
- 2019
Mall closes for safety reasons
[1]The property was declared unsafe and uninhabitable in February; Dick’s Sporting Goods closed in March.
- 2016
Macy’s closes
[1]Macy’s announced and completed the closure of its main Century III location, triggering further retailer departures.
- 2013
Moonbeam acquisition
[1]Moonbeam Capital Investments purchased Century III Mall in May.
- 2011
Ownership transfers after loan default
[1]Simon’s default on the mall’s loan led to transfer of the property to lenders.
- 1997
Renovation completed
[1]A major facelift added skylights and changed the center-court layout.
- 1996
Simon-DeBartolo merger
[1]The DeBartolo real-estate interests merged with Simon Property Group, bringing the mall into the Simon DeBartolo portfolio.
- 1980
Mall expansion completed
[1]The second phase opened in March; Gimbels and Sears followed during the year, completing the original five-anchor configuration.
Products and positioning
A large regional enclosed shopping center serving Pittsburgh’s southeastern suburbs, combining multiple department-store anchors with specialty retail, dining, services, and entertainment.
Controversies
2024
Criminal nuisance case
The Allegheny County district attorney filed criminal nuisance charges against the owners over the deteriorated, abandoned property and sought court action connected with the site.
2023
Arson fire at abandoned property
A fire above the former food-court area was determined to have been intentionally set, adding to concerns about vandalism and unsafe conditions at the abandoned mall.
Brand decisions
2019
Closure and redevelopment planningStrategyBackground
Severe vacancy, building-system failures, and municipal safety findings made continued operation impractical.
Action taken
The remaining tenants were evicted or closed, while owners discussed demolition and replacement with a mixed-use development.
Aftermath
The proposed redevelopment did not proceed before the site was condemned and demolition began in 2024.
2013
Acquisition by Moonbeam Capital InvestmentsM&ABackground
Following Simon’s 2011 loan default and lender control, the distressed property required a new owner.
Action taken
Moonbeam Capital Investments LLC purchased the mall in May 2013.
Aftermath
The mall continued to lose anchors and tenants despite isolated additions such as a carousel and proposed redevelopment concepts.
1997
Common-area renovationStrategyBackground
After the Simon-DeBartolo merger, the owners sought to refresh the aging regional mall and improve its interior environment.
Action taken
The property underwent an approximately $8 million facelift that added skylights and removed or altered the sunken center-court stage.
Aftermath
The renovation modernized the common areas but did not prevent the longer-term effects of new competition and anchor departures.
Recent events
- 2024
Demolition begins[1]
Other
Demolition started with the attached parking structure in March, followed by abatement and dismantling of the mall building.
- 2023
Borough votes to condemn Century III Mall[1]
Regulation
West Mifflin Borough Council voted unanimously among those present to condemn the abandoned property after safety complaints.
- 2019
Century III Mall is declared unsafe[1]
Regulation
West Mifflin fire officials deemed the property unsafe and uninhabitable because of code violations and building-system failures.
- 2013
Moonbeam Capital Investments acquires the mall[1]
M&A
Moonbeam Capital Investments LLC purchased the property in May 2013.
- 2011
Simon defaults on Century III Mall loan[1]
Bankruptcy
Simon Property Group defaulted on the mall’s reported loan, leading to transfer of ownership to lenders.
- 1997
Simon completes mall renovation[1]
Other
An approximately $8 million renovation added skylights and modified the center-court design.
- 1996
Simon Property Group takes control through DeBartolo merger[1]
M&A
The merger of Simon Property Group and DeBartolo Realty brought Century III Mall into the Simon DeBartolo portfolio.
- 1979
Century III Mall opens its first phase[1]
Other
The first phase opened in October with Kaufmann’s, JCPenney, and approximately 75 stores.
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