Did you know that Century III Mall was once the third largest shopping center in the world? It was built on an old West Mifflin industrial site in 1979, and topped off with big retailers like a two-story Kaufmann's and an even bigger Sears.
Those two stores aren’t even in business today, and neither is the mall. It permanently closed in 2019 and has since been left to deteriorate. It has become a safety hazard, but that hasn’t stopped explorers from capturing this abandoned building.
But it’s not just a building for many Pittsburghers. It’s a center of nostalgia. There’s even a Facebook page dedicated to “Century III Mall Memories.”
That’s where it will live: in memory. A hearing is set for June 14 to determine whether Century III Mall should be condemned. The company who owns the building, Moonbeam, filed for bankruptcy in 2018. It promised to demolish the building to make room for a mixed-used development over five years, but it’s unclear if that plan is still happening.
So if Century III Mall is indeed condemned, where will the Chevrolet be minutes from? (That one is for lifelong Pittsburghers like me, who still hear that commercial jingle in their mind.)
If you want to grieve the loss of your childhood destination, submit them to our inbox, and maybe we can craft up a community obituary.
