Uploaded May 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I had to run a few errands out in the West Mifflin area of Pittsburgh, so I figured while I had a little time to kill I would stop by the ever-dwindling Century III Mall. The place opened in 1979 and at the time was the third largest enclosed shopping center in the world. At its peak, it had over 200 stores. Competition from other malls and shopping centers in the area, as well as changes in the economy, helped lead to the ever-decreasing popularity of the mall. The first anchor tenant left in 1999, by the early 2000's (when I was little), the occupancy rate was down to 75 percent, and nowadays the occupancy rate is less than 20 percent. There are only 35 stores and kiosks left in the once busy mall, only 2 anchors (J. C. Penny's and Dick's Sporting Goods), and 2 eateries (Italian Village Pizza in the food court, and Old Mexico Restaurant outside) remain. As shown in the video, the entire parking deck, and most of the area beneath it, is now barricaded off from public access. A segment of the main mall leading to the former Macy's Furniture Gallery has also been blocked off by drywall, also seen in the video. Most of the pavement in the parking lots and access roads are starting to crumble, allowing a very bumpy ride and some nasty potholes (though I admit any Pittsburgher should be used to those). Even some of the concrete on the building looks to be deteriorating.
Personally, while the mall was already past its prime when I was younger, I still remember when the place was still fairly busy with plenty of shops. It's been depressing to see it fall so much out of shape as I've grown up, and walking through it now is like walking through the shell of what it used to be. Rumors say the mall may be torn down or re-purposed, and while it will certainly be sad to see the mall go, I think the time has come to put the place out of its misery. I would also love the space to be revitalized into something more appealing to everyone. A shopping center, a park, offices or apartments, anything's possible!
Anyone from the Pittsburgh area with memories of this former glory of a shopping center?
I had to run a few errands out in the West Mifflin area of Pittsburgh, so I figured while I had a little time to kill I would stop by the ever-dwindling Century III Mall. The place opened in 1979 and at the time was the third largest enclosed shopping center in the world. At its peak, it had over 200 stores. Competition from other malls and shopping centers in the area, as well as changes in the economy, helped lead to the ever-decreasing popularity of the mall. The first anchor tenant left in 1999, by the early 2000's (when I was little), the occupancy rate was down to 75 percent, and nowadays the occupancy rate is less than 20 percent. There are only 35 stores and kiosks left in the once busy mall, only 2 anchors (J. C. Penny's and Dick's Sporting Goods), and 2 eateries (Italian Village Pizza in the food court, and Old Mexico Restaurant outside) remain. As shown in the video, the entire parking deck, and most of the area beneath it, is now barricaded off from public access. A segment of the main mall leading to the former Macy's Furniture Gallery has also been blocked off by drywall, also seen in the video. Most of the pavement in the parking lots and access roads are starting to crumble, allowing a very bumpy ride and some nasty potholes (though I admit any Pittsburgher should be used to those). Even some of the concrete on the building looks to be deteriorating.
Personally, while the mall was already past its prime when I was younger, I still remember when the place was still fairly busy with plenty of shops. It's been depressing to see it fall so much out of shape as I've grown up, and walking through it now is like walking through the shell of what it used to be. Rumors say the mall may be torn down or re-purposed, and while it will certainly be sad to see the mall go, I think the time has come to put the place out of its misery. I would also love the space to be revitalized into something more appealing to everyone. A shopping center, a park, offices or apartments, anything's possible!
Anyone from the Pittsburgh area with memories of this former glory of a shopping center?
![[Livestream] Upgrading a ThinkPad T440p](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZOx6MgR_3BY/mqdefault.jpg "[Livestream] Upgrading a ThinkPad T440p
Self explanatory.")
