Parkway Center Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that operated from 1982 until its site was largely demolished in the 2010s.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Parkway Center Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, developed by Kossman Development and opened on November 4, 1982. The center was built near Interstate 376 and received a dedicated highway exit, reflecting the period's emphasis on automobile access and suburban retail development. Its original tenant mix combined department stores, discount retail, grocery, pharmacy, catalog shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and specialty stores. Initial anchors included Gold Circle, Giant Eagle, Zayre, Thrift Drug, and a David Weis catalog showroom, while other recognizable tenants included Chi-Chi's, K·B Toys, RadioShack, Payless ShoeSource, and Jo-Ann Fabrics. The mall experienced operational and structural difficulties over the following decades. In 1986, Gold Circle was converted into a Kmart. Soon afterward, the store's foundation shifted, producing a crack that extended across the length of the sales floor; steel plates were installed over the gap. The property had been constructed on fill dirt, and later accounts described continuing settlement-related movement and vibration. Some vibrations were also attributed to heavy truck traffic on the nearby interstate. These problems affected the mall's physical condition and contributed to its long-term decline. Tenant changes accelerated during the late 1980s and 1990s. Zayre closed its mall location in 1989. David Weis closed in 1990, and its space became a Phar-Mor in 1991. The former Zayre space was briefly used as a Kaufmann's clearance center, followed by CompUSA in part of the space and later Syms Corporation in the remainder. Thrift Drug became Eckerd in 1997 after the chain was acquired. The arcade and food court closed in 1999; portions of the former food-court area were subsequently used for a dance studio and a driver's-license office. By 2002, both Syms and Phar-Mor had closed, and CompUSA had relocated to Robinson Town Centre. By 2006, Parkway Center Mall was largely vacant. Remaining tenants had been concentrated on the second floor, while the first and third floors were no longer open to regular customer traffic. Kmart, the principal remaining anchor, announced its closure in late 2012 and ceased operations on January 6, 2013. The few remaining occupants, including GNC, a sports-apparel store, a nail salon, a martial-arts studio, and an optician, closed or relocated shortly afterward. Demolition began in August 2016. By February 2019, the mall complex had been demolished except for the building occupied by Giant Eagle, which had previously housed Kmart. Giant Eagle remained the last operating tenant associated with the property. It closed in June 2025, citing aging facilities and the inability to renew its lease, and directed customers to stores in Crafton and on Noblestown Road. With the mall structure gone and its final store closed, Parkway Center Mall is now a defunct retail property rather than an operating shopping center.
History
Parkway Center Mall was developed by Kossman Development and opened on November 4, 1982, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was designed as an enclosed, automobile-oriented shopping center and benefited from a dedicated exit from Interstate 376. Its initial anchor lineup consisted of Gold Circle, Giant Eagle, Zayre, Thrift Drug, and a David Weis catalog showroom. The mall also hosted a broad range of specialty and service tenants, including Chi-Chi's, K·B Toys, RadioShack, Payless ShoeSource, and Jo-Ann Fabrics. The property's physical condition became an important part of its history. In 1986, Gold Circle was converted into Kmart. Not long afterward, the store's foundation shifted, causing a crack to run along the length of its floor. Eight-inch steel plates were placed over the opening. The mall had been constructed on fill dirt, and settlement of the underlying material caused the building to shake. Traffic from nearby Interstate 376 was also identified as a source of vibration. Tenant turnover began to erode the original retail lineup. Zayre closed its mall store in 1989. David Weis closed in 1990, and its space was converted into Phar-Mor in 1991. The former Zayre premises became a Kaufmann's clearance center in 1990; by 1992, the clearance operation had closed, with one-third of the space converted into a CompUSA and the rest later occupied by Syms. Thrift Drug changed to Eckerd in 1997 after Eckerd acquired the chain. The mall's non-retail attractions also contracted. Its arcade and food court closed in 1999. The former food-court area was later repurposed for a dance studio and a driver's-license office. In 2002, Syms and Phar-Mor both closed, while CompUSA moved to Robinson Town Centre. By 2006, the center was largely vacant. Remaining businesses had been consolidated onto the second floor, and the first and third floors were closed to customer traffic. Kmart announced the closure of its Parkway Center store in late 2012, and the location closed on January 6, 2013. The remaining tenants, including GNC, a sports-apparel store, a nail salon, a martial-arts studio, and an optician, closed or relocated within the following month. Demolition began in August 2016. By February 2019, the mall had been removed except for the Giant Eagle building, which had previously been the Kmart structure. Giant Eagle remained in operation until June 2025, when it closed because of aging facilities and the inability to renew its lease. That closure ended the site's last known retail operation.
- 2025
Final Giant Eagle store closes
[1]The last operating tenant closed in June, ending retail operations associated with Parkway Center Mall.
- 2019
Main mall structure gone
[1]Only the building occupied by Giant Eagle remained from the mall complex.
- 2016
Demolition starts
[1]The largely vacant mall began to be demolished in August.
- 2013
Kmart and remaining small tenants depart
[1]Kmart closed on January 6, followed shortly afterward by the closure or relocation of the mall's remaining small tenants.
- 2006
Mall becomes largely vacant
[1]Most tenants had left, and the remaining businesses were concentrated on the second floor because other levels were closed to traffic.
- 2002
Syms and Phar-Mor close
[1]Two significant tenants departed, and CompUSA relocated to Robinson Town Centre.
- 1999
Arcade and food court close
[1]The mall lost two of its shared entertainment and dining amenities when the arcade and food court closed.
- 1997
Thrift Drug becomes Eckerd
[1]The Thrift Drug location changed to the Eckerd banner following Eckerd's acquisition of the chain.
- 1991
Former David Weis space becomes Phar-Mor
[1]The former David Weis catalog-showroom space was converted into a Phar-Mor store.
- 1989
Zayre closes
[1]Zayre shut its Parkway Center store as part of a broader set of closures in the area.
Products and positioning
A vehicle-oriented suburban enclosed mall serving Pittsburgh-area shoppers through a mixed tenant base of department stores, discount retailers, grocery and pharmacy operators, restaurants, and specialty stores. Its later identity was defined by vacancy, structural deterioration, tenant consolidation, and eventual demolition.
Retail property · 1982
Enclosed mall retail space
The mall's principal offering was enclosed, multi-tenant retail space arranged around anchor stores and interior common areas. It was intended to provide a concentrated shopping destination accessible by automobile from the Pittsburgh area.
Department and discount retail space · 1982
Anchor-store premises
Large anchor spaces housed Gold Circle, later Kmart, as well as Giant Eagle, Zayre, Thrift Drug, and David Weis. These stores supplied general merchandise, groceries, pharmacy products, and catalog-shopping services.
Shopping and services · 1982
Specialty retail and services
The tenant mix included restaurants, toys, electronics, apparel, footwear, fabric and craft merchandise, personal services, fitness or martial-arts instruction, and later administrative uses such as a driver's-license office.
Brand decisions
2025
Close the final Giant Eagle locationOtherBackground
Giant Eagle was the last operating tenant associated with the former mall site.
Action taken
The store closed in June 2025, citing aging facilities and the inability to renew its lease.
Aftermath
Customers were directed to Giant Eagle stores in Crafton and on Noblestown Road, ending the site's retail operations.
2016
Begin demolition of the mallOtherBackground
The property had become largely vacant after years of tenant departures and structural difficulties.
Action taken
Demolition of the mall began in August 2016.
Aftermath
By February 2019, the mall had been demolished except for the Giant Eagle building.
1986
Convert Gold Circle anchor to KmartStrategyBackground
Gold Circle ceased operating under its original banner as the mall's retail environment evolved.
Action taken
The anchor location was converted into a Kmart store.
Aftermath
Kmart became the mall's principal remaining anchor and continued operating until January 2013.
Recent events
- 2025
Giant Eagle closes the final operating store[1]
Other
Giant Eagle closed its Parkway Center location in June 2025, citing aging facilities and an inability to renew its lease. Customers were redirected to nearby Crafton and Noblestown Road stores.
- 2019
Remaining mall structure is demolished except for Giant Eagle building[1]
Other
By February 2019, the mall had been fully demolished apart from the building occupied by Giant Eagle, formerly the Kmart structure.
- 2016
Mall demolition begins[1]
Other
Demolition of the largely vacant Parkway Center Mall began in August 2016.
- 2012
Kmart announces closure at Parkway Center Mall[1]
Other
Kmart announced that its Parkway Center location would close, with the final day of operation scheduled for January 6, 2013.
- 1999
Arcade and food court close[1]
Other
The mall's arcade and food court ceased operating. The former food-court space was later used for a dance studio and a driver's-license office.
- 1990
Tenant turnover increases during the 1990s[1]
Other
David Weis closed, the former Zayre space changed uses, and the mall cycled through Phar-Mor, Kaufmann's clearance, CompUSA, and Syms occupations.
- 1986
Gold Circle location becomes Kmart[1]
Other
The mall's Gold Circle anchor was converted to a Kmart store. Structural movement at the store later resulted in a prominent floor crack that was covered with steel plates.
- 1982
Parkway Center Mall opens in Pittsburgh[1]
Other
Kossman Development opened the enclosed mall on November 4, 1982, with Gold Circle, Giant Eagle, Zayre, Thrift Drug, and David Weis among its original anchor tenants.
Sources1 sources
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