Monroeville Mall sold for $34 million; buyer not disclosed but store employees, shoppers hopeful

The Monroeville Mall and its annex have been sold for $34 million in cash, the mall owner said Friday.

CBL Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn., did not disclose the buyer.

In a statement, CBL said the sale will allow it to focus its efforts on properties with a higher productivity than Monroeville. It also generates significant cash and further reduces leverage, said CBL Chief Executive Stephen Lebovitz.

CBL Properties spokeswoman Stacey Keating could not be reached for further comment.

The mall and its annex are spread over about 185 acres and has stores such as Macy’s, JC Penney, Dick’s Sporting Goods as anchors. It has about 160 specialty shops.

CBL Properties announced in December it had listed the mall for sale. The Monroeville Mall was one of the 89 properties that CBL owned or managed across 21 states. It also owns Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield.

The mall was developed by Oxford Development Co. in 1967 and 1968. The Monroeville Mall had a feature no other mall in the region had — an indoor ice skating rink.

In recent years, the mall has suffered from some bad publicity related to violence. In 2015, three people were shot and wounded inside the Macy’s store. The shooter was sentenced to 15-to-30 years in prison.

Business and shopper reaction

Workers and shoppers Friday evening seemed optimistic about about the mall’s future under new ownership.

Danielle Bowie of Penn Hills was out shopping at the mall with her mom, cousin and son Friday evening.

She said it has been a while since she has been at the mall and hopes the new owners bring back a clothing store that was popular in the 1990s.

“Back in the day, one of my favorite stores used be RAVE,” said Bowie, a 2004 Penn Hills High School grad. “I wish they would bring RAVE back.”

She also lamented the loss of women’s clothing store Charlotte Russe.

“I haven’t been out here in so long,” Bowie said. “What’s bothering me is the cost of things. … It’s, like, completely different.”

She looks forward to the mall’s future under new ownership.

Sara Schuchert, assistant manager at the clothing store Daily Thread, has worked at the mall since October 2023.

She said rumors have been circulating about possible changes in security and special events, as well as addition of new stores as a result of new ownership.

“I’m choosing to be hopeful because I enjoy working here and people have been coming here for years,” said Schuchert of Penn Hills. “We have a very healthy return customer rate. People love this mall. We have old people walk. They’re very friendly and sometimes they buy stuff.”

Dizire Hair Boutique is on the upper floor of the mall near the elevator. Barber Razor Weezy has been cutting hair there for five years. He said the community has been very supportive of the business, and he had a message for new ownership.

“We appreciate y’all,” he said. “Thank you and God bless everyone.”

It is unclear what may happen to the small businesses and kiosks in the middle of the mall walkway.

Ashley Eckenrod, manager at Banter by Piercing Pagoda, said she hopes the new owners keep the same layout and add bigger clothing stores like Lane Bryant.

Eckenrod, a 2022 Kiski Area High School grad, has come to the mall for years. The Murrysville resident began working at the jewelry business about six months ago.

“I like the community,” Eckenrod said. “Everybody’s pretty close-knit. My manager will see people throughout the day. She hugs at least five people a day.

“I feel like the mall gets a bad rap, but it’s a really nice place. I was worried about it not getting bought.”

Eckenrod acknowledged a chaotic scene in December. Police were called to the mall for a report of a person with a gun and possibly shots fired Dec. 22.

An investigation revealed there was no evidence of gunfire at the mall.

“I was worried that no one was going to buy it because of that,” Eckenrod said. “We have a lot of theories buzzing around here (about what happened). I’m happy to hear somebody did buy it.

“I’m just hoping they take good care of it.”