Richland Town Center
A power center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, developed on the former site of Richland Mall.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Richland Town Center is a power center serving the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, area. It occupies a site on U.S. Route 219 at Elton Road and Theatre Drive, on the southeastern side of the Johnstown region. The present open-air retail property was developed after the demolition of Richland Mall, an enclosed shopping mall that operated on the site from 1974 until its effective closure in 1998 and complete vacancy in the early 2000s. The earlier Richland Mall was developed by Unimich Development and opened in November 1974 after construction began in 1973. Its original plan called for an approximately 650,000-square-foot enclosed center with about 70 stores and three principal anchors: Kmart, Sears, and Johnstown-based Penn Traffic. The combination made the mall notable as the first shopping center in the United States to house both Kmart and Sears. Kmart also had direct access from the mall concourse, an early feature for that chain. A Shop 'n Save supermarket and the three anchor stores began opening shortly before the mall's formal opening. The property later experienced substantial tenant and competitive pressure. Sears relocated to the newly developed Johnstown Galleria in 1992. Penn Traffic's department-store operation changed hands and identities over time, becoming Hess's and later The Bon-Ton. The former Sears space was subsequently occupied by Hills, which later became Ames after Hills was acquired. Although the owners announced improvement and expansion concepts in the mid-1990s, including a carousel, possible Kmart expansion, and an ice rink, the mall continued to lose tenants to the Johnstown Galleria. The Bon-Ton and other retailers also moved to the newer center, and Richland Mall was largely closed by March 1998 apart from remaining anchor operations. After the property was offered at auction in 2000, Ames and Kmart eventually departed. Ames had entered bankruptcy, while Kmart did not renew its lease. The site became fully vacant in 2003, enabling Heritage Development to demolish the enclosed mall and pursue a new retail format anchored by Walmart. Richland Town Center opened in stages from late 2004 into early 2005. MPG Property Group owns and manages the current center. The present center follows a power-center or strip-center format rather than the enclosed-mall model of its predecessor. Walmart is the principal anchor, with TJ Maxx/HomeGoods, Best Buy, and Ulta among the major retailers identified for the property. Its tenant mix combines general merchandise, off-price apparel and home goods, consumer electronics, beauty products, and other everyday shopping and service uses. The center's location beside major roads gives it a regional draw within the Johnstown market, while its open-air format reflects the redevelopment of a distressed enclosed mall into a lower-overhead, big-box-oriented retail property.
History
Richland Town Center occupies land that previously contained Richland Mall, an enclosed shopping mall in the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, area. The earlier mall was announced by Grand Rapids-based Unimich Development and built near U.S. Route 219 on the southeastern side of the city, at a site that had formerly been used as a drive-in theater. Construction began on May 1, 1973, and the mall formally opened on November 4, 1974. Its three principal anchors—Kmart, Sears, and Penn Traffic—opened during October, before the formal center-wide opening. A Shop 'n Save supermarket was also an early occupant. The original development was planned as a roughly 650,000-square-foot, 70-store enclosed mall. Its tenant combination had national significance because it brought Kmart and Sears together in what was described as the first shopping center in the United States to contain both chains. Kmart's store also had direct access from the interior concourse, an unusual arrangement for the retailer at that time. Penn Traffic was a locally associated department-store anchor, while Sears replaced an existing Johnstown location. Ownership and tenant identities changed during the mall's operating life. Hess's acquired the Penn Traffic chain in 1982, and Crown American, then associated with Hess's ownership, announced a $2.5 million renovation for the department store. The planned work included updated department décor and a furniture addition. In the early 1990s, however, the center faced a new competitive threat when Zamias Services developed The Johnstown Galleria to the north. Sears moved there in 1992. The Richland Mall department-store space associated with Hess's was sold to The Bon-Ton in the latter part of 1994, while the vacant Sears anchor was replaced by Hills and later Ames. Mall ownership announced possible improvements in 1996, including an antique carousel, potential Kmart expansion, and an ice rink. These concepts did not reverse the center's decline. Retailers continued to transfer to the Johnstown Galleria, and management announced that most of Richland Mall would close by March 1998, with Kmart and Hills the principal exceptions. The property was auctioned in 2000. By then Hills had become part of Ames, and both remaining anchors eventually left: Ames after filing for bankruptcy and Kmart after failing to renew its lease. The mall was completely vacant in 2003. Heritage Development then demolished the enclosed mall and prepared the site for a new, big-box-oriented shopping center. Richland Town Center opened in phases between late 2004 and early 2005. Unlike its predecessor, it used an open-air power-center configuration centered on Walmart. MPG Property Group is identified as the owner and manager of the current property. Major tenants have included Walmart, TJ Maxx/HomeGoods, Best Buy, and Ulta. The redevelopment converted a failed enclosed mall into a contemporary convenience-oriented retail destination focused on large-format stores and complementary specialty retailers.
- 2005
Redevelopment reaches its opening phase
[1]The new shopping center completed its staged opening period and operated as a power-center retail destination.
- 2004
Richland Town Center begins opening
[1]The replacement open-air center opened in stages, with Walmart as its principal anchor.
- 2003
The former mall becomes fully vacant
[1]Ames and Kmart had departed, leaving the former enclosed mall empty and enabling redevelopment.
- 2000
The former mall is put up for auction
[1]The increasingly vacant property was offered at auction as its previous retail model continued to deteriorate.
- 1998
Richland Mall largely closes
[1]After extensive tenant losses, most of the enclosed mall was closed, with only limited anchor operations continuing.
- 1996
Renovation and expansion concepts announced
[1]Plans discussed for the mall included an antique carousel, possible Kmart expansion, and an ice rink.
- 1994
The Bon-Ton takes over the Hess's location
[1]The Bon-Ton acquired several former Hess's stores, including the Richland Mall location.
- 1992
Sears moves to The Johnstown Galleria
[1]Sears relocated to the newer competing mall, leaving Richland Mall without one of its original anchors.
- 1982
Hess's acquires Penn Traffic
[1]The Penn Traffic department-store operation at the mall became part of Hess's, followed by a substantial renovation announcement.
- 1974
Richland Mall opens
[1]The original enclosed center opened with Sears, Kmart, Penn Traffic, and Shop 'n Save among its initial retail occupants.
Products and positioning
Community-serving power center and open-air retail redevelopment
General merchandise anchor · 2004
Walmart
Walmart serves as the principal anchor of the redeveloped center, providing a broad range of general merchandise and everyday consumer goods. Its large-format presence gives the property a regional shopping draw and differentiates the current power-center format from the enclosed mall that previously occupied the site.
Off-price apparel and home retail
TJ Maxx/HomeGoods
The TJ Maxx/HomeGoods presence adds off-price apparel, accessories, seasonal merchandise, and home furnishings to the center's tenant mix. It complements Walmart's broad assortment with a more specialized treasure-hunt format focused on discounted branded and designer-oriented goods.
Consumer electronics
Best Buy
Best Buy contributes consumer electronics and technology retailing, including computing, entertainment, connected devices, and related services. As a major specialty tenant, it broadens the center beyond everyday discount and department-store shopping.
Beauty retail
Ulta
Ulta represents the beauty category within the center, offering cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, and personal-care merchandise. Its specialty format provides a category-specific destination alongside the property's larger general-merchandise anchors.
Brand decisions
2003
Conversion from enclosed mall to power centerStrategyBackground
After the former mall became vacant, its enclosed format was no longer viable and the property required a fundamental redevelopment.
Action taken
Heritage Development demolished the former mall and prepared the site for a new open-air center anchored by Walmart.
Aftermath
Richland Town Center opened in stages from late 2004 through early 2005 and established a new big-box-oriented retail format on the site.
1996
Consideration of a mall renovation and expansionStrategyBackground
Richland Mall was losing tenants and facing competition from The Johnstown Galleria, prompting its owners to consider ways to refresh and expand the property.
Action taken
Plans discussed adding an antique carousel, expanding Kmart, and introducing an ice rink.
Aftermath
The proposals did not prevent further tenant departures or the mall's broad closure by 1998.
Recent events
- 2004
Former mall site is redeveloped as Richland Town Center[1]
Product launch
The former enclosed mall site reopened in stages as an open-air retail center anchored by Walmart, with MPG Property Group identified as owner and manager.
- 1998
Richland Mall faces major tenant departures[1]
Other
Following continued movement of retailers to the Johnstown Galleria, the mall was scheduled to close most of its operations, leaving only limited anchor activity.
- 1992
Sears relocates to the Johnstown Galleria[1]
Other
Sears left Richland Mall for the newer Johnstown Galleria, increasing competitive pressure on the older center.
- 1974
Richland Mall opens as a major enclosed shopping center[1]
Other
The original Richland Mall opened in Johnstown with Sears, Kmart, Penn Traffic, and a Shop 'n Save supermarket among its early occupants.
Sources2 sources
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