Ross Park Mall
Encyclopedia
Ross Park Mall is an upscale shopping mall located in Ross Township, Pennsylvania
, north of Pittsburgh. The mall houses nearly 160 retailers including anchor stores JCPenney, Macy's
, Nordstrom
and Sears. An outdoor lifestyle component complements the enclosed center and features such names as California Pizza Kitchen
, The Cheesecake Factory
, Crate & Barrel and L.L.Bean.
to the north, JCPenney to the east, Macy's
to the south, and Nordstrom
to the west. Crate & Barrel and L.L.Bean anchors the recently-built lifestyle addition on the western part of the mall property.
When the mall was originally built, a Horne's
store occupied the present Nordstrom location, and a Kaufmann's
was in the present Macy's spot. Horne's was the second largest of Pittsburgh's department store chains, and this store had been the anchor of nearby Northway Mall
; the two locations coexisted for about a year after the move. Kaufmann's was the third largest of Pittsburgh's chains, and its store moved in from a standalone location about a mile north on McKnight Road. Today, that location houses Giant Eagle
, Dunham's Sports
, and Stein Mart
.
The Nordstrom location has a complicated history. It was intended to be a Gimbel's
but was never occupied because the Gimbel's chain was sold and liquidated around the time the mall opened. The spot was then taken over by Horne's. It operated as Horne's from 1987 to 1994, when Federated Department Stores
purchased the Horne's chain and rebranded its stores with its own regional Lazarus
name. The store operated as Lazarus until Federated renamed it as Macy's
in March 2005. Four months later, Federated purchased the May Department Stores Company, which operated the Kaufmann's anchor store at the south end of the mall. Now Federated owned two anchors in the same mall, operating under different names. Uncomfortably for them, their policy was to operate all stores under the Macy's brand. The discomfort was resolved eight months later. In March 2006, Nordstrom announced plans to build a new store on the Gimbel's/Horne's/Lazarus/Macy's site, after tearing down the building and an adjacent two-level parking structure. May quickly closed the Macy's store and began converting the much larger Kaufmann's to a Macy's. In September, 2006, the former Kaufmann's became Macy's. Macy's then renovated the entire store with replacement of flooring, and lighting, also relocating the furniture department to the original Horne's furniture galley located in the parking lot. After a two-year construction period, the Nordstrom store opened on October 24, 2008.
department store will increase the square footage of the mall to over 1300000 square feet (120,774 m²). The area where Media Play
was located has become a Forever 21. The former DSW Shoe Warehouse is now Old Navy. The lifestyle expansion will add about four or five new stores, including one eatery, and all stores will be accessible from the outside. The lifestyle addition currently houses California Pizza Kitchen
, The Cheesecake Factory
and L.L.Bean. In November 2010, Crate and Barrel
opened a 26000 square feet (2,415.5 m²) store next to L.L.Bean.
Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Ross Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 31,105 at the 2010 census. In September 2007, Ross Township adopted the Strong Mayor/Weak Council form of government allowed by Pennsylvania statutes for townships of its class.The township is part of...
, north of Pittsburgh. The mall houses nearly 160 retailers including anchor stores JCPenney, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
and Sears. An outdoor lifestyle component complements the enclosed center and features such names as California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen , known within the food industry as CPK, is a casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in California-style pizza...
, The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. is a restaurant company in the United States. The company operates 165 upscale, casual, full-service dining restaurants: 151 under The Cheesecake Factory mark, 13 under the Grand Lux Cafe mark and one under the RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen mark...
, Crate & Barrel and L.L.Bean.
History
The mall's present anchor tenants include SearsSears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
to the north, JCPenney to the east, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
to the south, and Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
to the west. Crate & Barrel and L.L.Bean anchors the recently-built lifestyle addition on the western part of the mall property.
When the mall was originally built, a Horne's
Horne's
The Joseph Horne Company, often referred to simply as Joseph Horne's or Horne's, was an iconic, regional department store chain based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The store was one of the oldest in the country being founded on February 22, 1849 but due to its regional presence in the country, it...
store occupied the present Nordstrom location, and a Kaufmann's
Kaufmann's
Kaufmann's was a department store that originated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was owned in the early 20th century by Edgar J. Kaufmann, patron of 'Fallingwater' and the Kaufmann's Desert House. In the post-war years the store became a regional chain in the eastern United States, and was last...
was in the present Macy's spot. Horne's was the second largest of Pittsburgh's department store chains, and this store had been the anchor of nearby Northway Mall
The Shoppes at Northway
The Shoppes at Northway, formerly Northway Mall, is an ailing enclosed shopping mall located in Ross Township, north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The mall began as a strip mall called Northway Shopping Center in 1953; it was re-opened on August 1, 1962 as Northway Mall, the first...
; the two locations coexisted for about a year after the move. Kaufmann's was the third largest of Pittsburgh's chains, and its store moved in from a standalone location about a mile north on McKnight Road. Today, that location houses Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle, Inc., is a supermarket chain with stores in the U.S. states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. The company was founded in 1918 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Supermarket News ranked Giant Eagle No. 21 in the 2009 "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on 2008...
, Dunham's Sports
Dunham's Sports
Dunham's Sports is a regional sporting goods superstore chain owned by Dunham's Athleisure Corporation, with stores located in the Midwestern United States. The chain specializes in athletic equipment, clothing, and other sports-related items...
, and Stein Mart
Stein Mart
Stein Mart is a nationwide department store based in Jacksonville, Florida. The company reported a profit of nearly $24 million in 2009 with operation of 264 stores in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Stein Mart has locations primarily in the Southeast and Texas. Stein Mart's stores carry...
.
The Nordstrom location has a complicated history. It was intended to be a Gimbel's
Gimbel's
Gimbel Brothers was an American department store corporation from 1887 through the late 20th century. The store is known for creating the Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade, the oldest parade in the country. Gimbels was also once the largest department store chain in the country...
but was never occupied because the Gimbel's chain was sold and liquidated around the time the mall opened. The spot was then taken over by Horne's. It operated as Horne's from 1987 to 1994, when Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
purchased the Horne's chain and rebranded its stores with its own regional Lazarus
Lazarus (department store)
F&R Lazarus & Company — commonly known as Lazarus — was a regional department store retail chain operating primarily in the U.S. Midwest, and based in Columbus, Ohio...
name. The store operated as Lazarus until Federated renamed it as Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in March 2005. Four months later, Federated purchased the May Department Stores Company, which operated the Kaufmann's anchor store at the south end of the mall. Now Federated owned two anchors in the same mall, operating under different names. Uncomfortably for them, their policy was to operate all stores under the Macy's brand. The discomfort was resolved eight months later. In March 2006, Nordstrom announced plans to build a new store on the Gimbel's/Horne's/Lazarus/Macy's site, after tearing down the building and an adjacent two-level parking structure. May quickly closed the Macy's store and began converting the much larger Kaufmann's to a Macy's. In September, 2006, the former Kaufmann's became Macy's. Macy's then renovated the entire store with replacement of flooring, and lighting, also relocating the furniture department to the original Horne's furniture galley located in the parking lot. After a two-year construction period, the Nordstrom store opened on October 24, 2008.
Renovations
In the year 2000, Ross Park underwent $14 million in renovations including the construction of a play area for children and new lighting, ceilings, entranceways and flooring. Additional renovations have been done in 2008 with the mall expansion.Mall expansion
Ross Park Mall has approximately 160 stores, and an expansion of the mall, which includes a 65000 square feet (6,038.7 m²) lifestyle addition and a new NordstromNordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
department store will increase the square footage of the mall to over 1300000 square feet (120,774 m²). The area where Media Play
Media Play
Media Play was a chain of retail stores founded in 1992 by Musicland that sold movies on video, DVDs, music, Electronics, video games, books, and games in the United States. Each store essentially contained a book store, a movie store, a music store, and a video game store under one roof. At...
was located has become a Forever 21. The former DSW Shoe Warehouse is now Old Navy. The lifestyle expansion will add about four or five new stores, including one eatery, and all stores will be accessible from the outside. The lifestyle addition currently houses California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen , known within the food industry as CPK, is a casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in California-style pizza...
, The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. is a restaurant company in the United States. The company operates 165 upscale, casual, full-service dining restaurants: 151 under The Cheesecake Factory mark, 13 under the Grand Lux Cafe mark and one under the RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen mark...
and L.L.Bean. In November 2010, Crate and Barrel
Crate and Barrel
Crate & Barrel is a 170+ store chain of American retail stores, based in Northbrook, Illinois, specializing in housewares, furniture , and home accessories. Its corporate name is Euromarket Designs, Inc. The company is wholly owned by Otto GmbH.-Founding:Gordon and Carole Segal opened the first...
opened a 26000 square feet (2,415.5 m²) store next to L.L.Bean.