Monroeville Mall antics happening at Robinson Mall! (Pittsburgh, Punxsutawney: buy, new construction)

[neurodistortion]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Wonder what the dumb owners of Dingbat's are thinking? They were in Waterworks with Abate as well and now they moved up there. Ouch!

They probably had to have some kind of incentive to move there, like low rent. Regardless, I don't see it bringing people in, that's for sure.

[neurodistortion]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Not sure if rt. 28 completion will help it? I think it is a bust and always will be a bust. I like shopping there because it is dead and you get great service. Everyone that works there is just hanging out texting friends and doing nothing.

I think location is everything. Honestly, that wasn't the best location to put the mall. They should've just built the power center and left it as that. If it was directly off the turnpike and closer to Fox Chapel, then maybe it would've had a better chance. It just seems out of the way for a mall, especially considering what was there before it, nothing but woods.

[gg]

Originally Posted by neurodistortion

I think location is everything. Honestly, that wasn't the best location to put the mall. They should've just built the power center and left it as that. If it was directly off the turnpike and closer to Fox Chapel, then maybe it would've had a better chance. It just seems out of the way for a mall, especially considering what was there before it, nothing but woods.

I can't imagine what the project cost. I remember them moving all that earth thinking, wow they are spending so many millions on this place. I thought it would do a little better than it did, but people in that region are all about Walmart only. That Walmart is a huge winner! I hate going in there. It is so depressing with all the heavy people dressed in sweats and it is like culture shock for me since I am always hanging around the city. I only go there to try and find my Eight O'Clock coffee and paper products.

[neurodistortion]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I can't imagine what the project cost. I remember them moving all that earth thinking, wow they are spending so many millions on this place. I thought it would do a little better than it did, but people in that region are all about Walmart only. That Walmart is a huge winner! I hate going in there. It is so depressing with all the heavy people dressed in sweats and it is like culture shock for me since I am always hanging around the city. I only go there to try and find my Eight O'Clock coffee and paper products.

I think the Mills Corp were crazy enough as it is to build it out there, especially considering that they were looking in different parts of the area to build it. About $300 million was spent to build the mall, including grading and infrastructure. Remember what was there before it. That site was built from the ground up. The owner of the land had it in possession since the early 1980s though and felt that it was a good location for a mall, but they couldn't get the ball rolling until Mills stepped in. Now Mills has gone down the toilet, and the land owner is stuck with the mall.

[gg]

Originally Posted by neurodistortion

I think the Mills Corp were crazy enough as it is to build it out there, especially considering that they were looking in different parts of the area to build it. About $300 million was spent to build the mall, including grading and infrastructure. Remember what was there before it. That site was built from the ground up. The owner of the land had it in possession since the early 1980s though and felt that it was a good location for a mall, but they couldn't get the ball rolling until Mills stepped in. Now Mills has gone down the toilet, and the land owner is stuck with the mall.

I was thinking at some point that 300 acre site behind Target would get developed. I know the owner Duff McCrady has been trying to sell it for something like 12 million, but it is much smaller than the Mills location I think. That is a better location.

Is that go cart track thing open up there? I thought that was a good idea.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Wonder what the dumb owners of Dingbat's are thinking? They were in Waterworks with Abate as well and now they moved up there. Ouch!

I'm thinking they made money selling their Waterworks buildings. It's only a guess that they owned them, but I think it's a good one. Then, as neuro said, probably low rent at the new place. Or maybe they still own those buildings and make a killing on rent. Or they operate the new places that are in them? I can't remember what is in those places now at Waterworks.

I really don't know what happened. Back when I moved up here I used to go to Dingbats occasionally in Cranberry. It was close, it was adequate for a night when we didn't want to cook, whatever. That was one of the first to close and is now Uno instead. I don't know, heck, maybe it's the same people and they own the Uno franchise, but I've never asked about that. I don't go in there, LOL. But it's either that or they sold off the building.

The weird part is reopening though. I don't know why they think those names still would have some pull in a new, bad location way up there. And for those who don't know them, why would they be that interested in the unknown restaurant? Only a few will. Others always want what they know, crap as it may be.

[neurodistortion]

Either way, I think that the space should've been re-leased to a different owner as a bowling alley, albeit with lower prices and other incentives to bring people in. Perhaps have a bowl and golf package at the mini golf place so people can get their money's worth. It failed because it was too expensive for the market and people didn't want to pay that much to bowl.

h_curtis, if you're talking about the indoor mini go-kart track at the mall, it never did. It was supposed to open shortly after the mall opened for business but that didn't happen. It would've been nice to have though since there's really nothing up there to do.

[gg]

Originally Posted by greg42

I'm thinking they made money selling their Waterworks buildings.

I don't know if they even owned those buildings. Abate was torn down, which I thought was surprising it couldn't be reused, but Eat n Park is in a new building there now. Dingbats I think was torn down as well, but I am not 100% sure? I think that is where either Chili's is or Walnut Grove? I can't remember.

I still think the Mills would kill if it could be an outlet mall, but they don't do that often and they may not be allowed to do to Grove City?

[gg]

Originally Posted by neurodistortion

h_curtis, if you're talking about the indoor mini go-kart track at the mall, it never did. It was supposed to open shortly after the mall opened for business but that didn't happen. It would've been nice to have though since there's really nothing up there to do.

That is too bad. It might have helped that place because it would have been unique. Something to make it different than other malls. Not as cool as the ice rink in Monroeville, but still cool.

[greg42]

They're supposed to build that indoor waterpark resort at the Mills, and for some reason I remember it possibly being on that space that was meant for the go kart track, but I don't know that for sure.

Are they actually building that thing? I can't remember the name of it. It's a chain of such places.