Millcreek Mall

For the shopping mall in Secaucus, New Jersey, see Mill Creek Mall.
Millcreek Mall
Location Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates 42°4′9.43″N 80°5′56.52″W / 42.0692861°N 80.0990333°W / 42.0692861; -80.0990333Coordinates: 42°4′9.43″N 80°5′56.52″W / 42.0692861°N 80.0990333°W / 42.0692861; -80.0990333
Opening date 1975
Management Cafaro Company
Owner Cafaro Company
No. of stores and services 175
No. of anchor tenants 6
Total retail floor area 2,200,000 square feet (200,000 m2)[1]
No. of floors 1 (2 in department stores)
Website www.millcreekmall.net

The Millcreek Mall or Millcreek Mall Complex is a one-level shopping center located 3.4 miles (5.5 km) southwest of downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, between Peach Street and Interstate 79, in Millcreek Township.

The complex opened in 1975 and was developed by the Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Company, who still own and operate it. Due to Pennsylvania's lack of sales tax on clothing, the Millcreek Mall attracts many visitors from Ohio, New York and Canada. Presently, the mall proper houses 121 store spaces, with 12 kiosks. The 175 store and restaurants figure often cited includes stores within the physical mall and its many peripheral restaurants, stores and strip plazas. The mall is anchored by Sears - closing soon, JCPenney, Macy's, and Bon-Ton

Mall history

Exterior view of the mall, 2014

The mall's original anchor stores included Boston Store, Halle's, JCPenney, Kaufmann's, Carlisle's and Sears. Boston Store became Horne's in 1979, which in turn closed and became Lazarus in 1994. Lazarus closed this anchor in 1997.[2] Halle's later became a Dahlkemper's catalog showroom, which closed in 1993.[3] Its space became Burlington Coat Factory. HomePlace took the former Carlisle's location after Carlisle's closure in 1995.[4] Elder-Beerman took over the former Lazarus in 1998, but was converted five years later to The Bon-Ton. After HomePlace closed, its space was divided between Steve & Barry's and AC Moore, the former of which closed in 2009. Also, Kaufmann's was converted to Macy's in September 2006. Burlington Coat Factory moved out of the mall in late 2012.[5] In 2014, the space that was formerly occupied by Burlington was split into two spaces that now house Primanti Bros. sandwiches, and Mad Mex restaurant.

Aerial photo of the mall

The combination of anchors has given it the shape of a gun pointed at downtown Erie when viewed from above, which has led to controversy in some cases. This has resulted in an urban legend which states that the mall was intentionally built that way under the direction of the mafia.[6]

On March 27, 2008, it was announced that the mall would receive a multi-million dollar renovation. Among the new additions to the mall are a children's area, a food court, and renovated entrances to the building. The mall also got skylights, porcelain floors, a new west side entrance, and new parking lot lights. The food court opened in late 2008. Currently, The Mall is anchored by JCPenney, Macy's, Sears, and Bon-Ton.

Outside the Millcreek Mall

The Millcreek Mall Pavilion consists of stores including Ross Dress for Less, Home Goods, Michaels Arts & Crafts, Christmas Tree Shops, Five Below, dressbarn, Carter's, Ulta Beauty, Gander Mountain, DSW Shoe Warehouse, and Dick's Sporting Goods.

The mall property is also home to several restaurants including Max & Erma's, Smokey Bones Barbeque and Grill, Outback Steakhouse, The Fox and Hound Pub, Red Lobster, Starbuck's, Picasso's Deli, Cold Stone Creamery, Arby's and Aoyama Japanese Steakhouse, which is located in a former Chi-Chi's.

A Homewood Suites, TownePlace Suites and a Fairfield Inn also sit on the property. The former Blair store, has been converted into the Erie Institute of Technology (EIT). The Hills / Ames department store, which sat empty for over five years, became All Seasons Market Place & Flea Market but now houses At Home, a home decor store. Also on the property is the former Cinema 6, a discount movie theater, which is now the Elevate! church.

A Men's Wearhouse, OfficeMax, David's Bridal, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, and many smaller stores also occupy land on the site of the Millcreek Mall.

Millcreek Marketplace

Across the street from the Millcreek Mall, the land that was once woods, has recently begun to experience a major change. On the land there are five restaurants; O'Charley's, Moe's Southwest Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cheddar's Casual Café, and McDonald's, a SpringHill Suites hotel, PNC Bank, and a Verizon Wireless store.

See also

References

  1. . Millcreek Mall Complex http://www.millcreekmall.net/info/partnerships. Retrieved 2014-04-23. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Lazarus to close its Erie stores". Erie Times-News. 1997-12-04. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  3. Stouffer, Rick (1993-01-09). "DAHLKEMPER'S FILES FOR CHAPTER 11 CLOSES LAST REMAINING AREA OUTLET IN WALDEN GALLERIA". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  4. "HOMEPLACE FILING WON'T AFFECT ERIE MALL STORE". Erie Times-News. 1998-01-06. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  5. Guerriero, John (December 2, 2011). "Anchor store to move from Millcreek Mall to Summit Township". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  6. "No Headline". Erie Times-News. 2004-11-29.
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