Verizon store closed at Westmoreland Mall

Megan Tomasic | Tuesday, July 2, 2019 5:05 p.m.

Tribune-Review file photo

Shoppers browse retail stores on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 during Black Friday sales at the Westmoreland Mall. Westmoreland Mall

Another store has joined a list of businesses permanently shutting their doors at Westmoreland Mall.

Verizon Wireless, which sat between Greenhouse Winery and T-Mobile on the first floor of the mall near JCPenney, closed at the end of June, said David Weissmann, public relations manager for the Verizon Consumer Group.

Weissmann did not provide a reason behind the store closing.

Six stores announced national closures this year, which impacted the mall, including Sears, which closed March 17; Charlotte Russe; Helzberg Diamonds, which closed March 24; Gymboree; Payless ShoeSource and Dressbarn.

BonTon closed its doors in August, and is being renovated for a mini casino.

At the end of 2018, the vacancy rate at regional malls across the country was about 9%, according to the latest figures from Reis, a real estate research firm.

The Tribune-Review found in March more than 10% of the nearly 100 retail spaces at Westmoreland Mall were vacant. That figure did not include the pending closures.

Weissmann said customers are encouraged to visit the Greensburg Verizon store, located at 5113 Route 30 East.