The Block Northway
A shopping and entertainment center at the intersection of McKnight Road and Babcock Boulevard in Ross Township, Pennsylvania.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Block Northway is a shopping and entertainment center in Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, immediately north of Ross Park Mall. The property occupies a prominent location at the intersection of McKnight Road and Babcock Boulevard and has evolved substantially since its opening in 1953. It began as Northway Shopping Center, an open-air strip mall serving the growing suburban population north of Pittsburgh. In 1962, The Rouse Company enclosed the existing center, creating Northway Mall. The conversion made it the first enclosed shopping mall in Pennsylvania, an important milestone in the state's retail history. The enclosed center included a distinctive upper-level atrium aviary, which remained part of the mall's identity until it was removed in 1994. The property underwent another major renovation in 1995 under McNeil Real Estate of Dallas, which owned the center at that time. It was subsequently sold to the Archon Group. Around 2000, the center was placed on the market while reporting approximately 94 percent occupancy, but its performance later weakened as retail competition and changing consumer patterns affected the property. A restructuring plan converted portions of the enclosed upper level into a more conventional strip-center format. The property adopted the name The Shoppes at Northway in 2005. This phase removed the discount movie theater and attempted to create a more flexible tenant layout. Tenant turnover continued during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Value City and Old Navy closed in 2008, and a short-lived family play center known as the Kid Company occupied space formerly used by the food court. Borders closed in 2011 during the chain's liquidation, while Dick's Sporting Goods left in 2014 after relocating to McCandless Crossing. By October 2014, substantial portions of both levels were vacant, although Marshalls, Shoe Carnival, PetSmart, Northway Shoe and Repair, a music instruction business, and a hair salon remained. Longstanding restaurant tenant Mamma Lucia's, which had operated at the center since 1974, announced its closure at the end of 2014. LRC Realty, which had owned the property since December 2012, announced a comprehensive redevelopment intended to replace the struggling enclosed-mall format with a more open, contemporary retail and entertainment environment. Construction was planned to proceed while the center remained open. The redevelopment was initially associated with the proposed name Northway Collection, but the completed project became The Block Northway. The work included major changes to the north corridor and south atrium, as well as a 100-space enclosed parking garage. By December 2017, the principal areas of the redevelopment had been completed. Dave & Buster's opened at the center on February 18, 2019, reinforcing the property's repositioning around entertainment as well as retail. The current center is anchored by a mix of off-price apparel, home furnishings, footwear, beauty, pet supplies, and family entertainment. Reported anchor and major tenants include Dave & Buster's, Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, Bassett Furniture, Marshalls, DSW, Ulta Beauty, and PetSmart. Its present positioning reflects the broader redevelopment of a declining traditional mall into a destination combining value-oriented shopping, specialty retail, home goods, and experiential entertainment.
History
The property now known as The Block Northway opened in 1953 as Northway Shopping Center, an open-air strip mall in Ross Township, north of Pittsburgh. Its location at McKnight Road and Babcock Boulevard placed it in a growing suburban retail corridor near Ross Park Mall. In 1962, The Rouse Company enclosed the existing strip center and renamed it Northway Mall. This transformation made the property the first enclosed shopping mall in Pennsylvania. The early enclosed mall included an aviary in the upper-floor atrium, a distinctive feature that was removed in 1994. McNeil Real Estate of Dallas renovated the mall in 1995 while serving as its owner. The property later changed hands to the Archon Group, which placed it on the market again in 2000. Although the center was reported to have approximately 94 percent occupancy at that point, occupancy subsequently declined. In response, plans were developed to convert the enclosed upper level into a more open strip-center arrangement. The conversion took place alongside a name change to The Shoppes at Northway in 2005. The construction removed the discount movie theater and altered the internal circulation and retail format. Tenant changes followed throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s. New tenants announced in 2007 included a shoe retailer and a family play center. Value City and Old Navy departed in 2008. The Kid Company, a brief family-play concept that replaced the food court, did not operate for long. Borders closed in 2011 as its parent company entered liquidation. Dick's Sporting Goods closed its location on April 8, 2014, after moving to the newer McCandless Crossing development. By October 2014, the center showed clear signs of decline. Much of the upper floor was vacant apart from Marshalls and Shoe Carnival. The lower level retained PetSmart, Northway Shoe and Repair, a music performance instruction school, and a hair salon, while former Party City, Ritz Camera, and Csonka Optical spaces remained empty. Mamma Lucia's, an Italian restaurant that had operated at the center since 1974, announced that it would close at the end of 2014. Repurposed, a second-hand merchandise retailer, also planned not to renew its lease. LRC Realty had owned the mall since December 2012 and responded with a large-scale renovation and redevelopment plan. The owner intended to keep the property operating during construction and initially considered the name Northway Collection. The final identity became The Block Northway. The redevelopment reshaped the center into a shopping and entertainment destination, with work focused on areas such as the north corridor and south atrium and including a 100-space enclosed parking garage. The major areas were reported complete by December 2017. Dave & Buster's opened on February 18, 2019, providing a prominent entertainment anchor. The redeveloped property is anchored by Dave & Buster's, Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, Bassett Furniture, Marshalls, DSW, Ulta Beauty, and PetSmart. These tenants give the center a combination of off-price apparel, footwear, home furnishings, beauty, pet retail, and experiential entertainment. The property's history illustrates the successive evolution of suburban retail formats: from an open-air strip center, to an enclosed regional mall, to a partially de-enclosed shopping center, and finally to a mixed retail-and-entertainment redevelopment.
- 2019
Dave & Buster's opens
[1]The entertainment operator opens at the redeveloped center on February 18.
- 2017
Major redevelopment areas completed
[1]The north corridor, south atrium, and enclosed parking garage are reported complete by December.
- 2014
Redevelopment is announced
[1]LRC Realty announces plans for a comprehensive renovation and redevelopment of the struggling center.
- 2012
LRC Realty becomes owner
[1]LRC Realty is identified as the owner of the property from December 2012.
- 2011
Borders closes
[1]The Borders store closes as the bookseller undergoes liquidation.
- 2008
Value City and Old Navy close
[1]Both retailers leave the center during a period of tenant turnover.
- 2005
Property renamed The Shoppes at Northway
[1]A conversion of parts of the enclosed upper level into a strip-center format is accompanied by the new name The Shoppes at Northway.
- 1995
Major renovation by McNeil Real Estate
[1]McNeil Real Estate renovates the center while owning the property.
- 1994
Atrium aviary is removed
[1]The aviary formerly located in the mall's upper-floor atrium is removed.
- 1962
Center becomes Northway Mall
[1]The Rouse Company encloses the strip center, creating Northway Mall, described as Pennsylvania's first enclosed shopping mall.
Products and positioning
A redeveloped suburban shopping and entertainment center combining off-price fashion, footwear, home furnishings, beauty, pet retail, and experiential entertainment.
Shopping center · 1953
Retail and shopping-center services
The Block Northway provides a multi-tenant retail environment rather than a proprietary product line. Its tenant mix covers off-price apparel, accessories, footwear, home furnishings, beauty products, pet supplies, and related consumer services. The center's redevelopment emphasizes convenient suburban shopping supported by parking, dining, and entertainment.
Entertainment · 2019
Entertainment and dining
Entertainment is a central part of the current format, led by Dave & Buster's, which opened in 2019. The property has also historically included food and family-oriented leisure concepts, although individual tenants and formats have changed over time.
Retail
Off-price and specialty retail
Major reported retail anchors include Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, Marshalls, DSW, Ulta Beauty, Bassett Furniture, and PetSmart. Together they position the center around value-oriented fashion, footwear, home goods, beauty, and pet-care shopping.
Brand decisions
2019
Dave & Buster's openingProduct launchBackground
The redevelopment sought to add experiential uses to complement conventional retail.
Action taken
Dave & Buster's opened at The Block Northway on February 18, 2019.
Aftermath
The venue became a major entertainment anchor within the redeveloped center.
2014
Comprehensive redevelopment under LRC RealtyStrategyBackground
By 2014, significant portions of the property were vacant and several long-standing tenants had departed or announced closures.
Action taken
LRC Realty announced a redevelopment intended to create a modern retail and entertainment destination while keeping the center open during construction.
Aftermath
The project produced the The Block Northway identity, new physical amenities, and a tenant mix centered on retail and entertainment anchors.
2005
Conversion to The Shoppes at NorthwayStrategyBackground
Declining occupancy led to plans to make the enclosed upper level more like a strip-center environment.
Action taken
The upper-level configuration was altered, the discount movie theater was removed, and the property was renamed The Shoppes at Northway.
Aftermath
The center operated in a less traditional mall format, but tenant turnover and vacancies continued in subsequent years.
1962
Enclosure of Northway Shopping CenterStrategyBackground
The open-air Northway Shopping Center was converted into an enclosed mall as suburban retail formats developed.
Action taken
The Rouse Company enclosed the existing strip center and renamed it Northway Mall.
Aftermath
The property became Pennsylvania's first enclosed shopping mall and gained a distinctive atrium aviary.
Recent events
- 2019
Dave & Buster's opens at The Block Northway[1]
Product launch
Dave & Buster's opened on February 18, 2019, adding a major entertainment anchor to the redeveloped center.
- 2017
Redevelopment areas reach substantial completion[1]
Other
Major portions of the redevelopment, including the north corridor, south atrium, and a 100-space enclosed parking garage, were reported complete by December 2017.
- 2014
LRC Realty announces redevelopment of The Shoppes at Northway[1]
Other
Owner LRC Realty announced plans to renovate and redevelop the underperforming shopping center while keeping it open during construction. The project was intended to replace the declining enclosed-mall configuration with a more contemporary retail and entertainment format.
Sources2 sources
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