2 national chain stores set to open in Allegheny Township
Bargain shoppers will have two new shopping options in the coming months in Allegheny Township.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Dollar Tree are the newest tenants confirmed by Pittsburgh-area developer Jeff Paul to open in Hyde Park Plaza, the former home to a Big Kmart.
Paul is the man behind the multimillion-dollar redevelopment project at 451 Hyde Park Road.
He purchased the plaza for $3.8 million in 2022, commenting in a previous interview with the Tribune-Review that he looks for properties with “really good bones.”
Township Manager Gregory Primm said the new stores will contribute to the township’s local services tax base and the businesses will attract new people to the township.
“It’s wonderful to see these vacancies being filled with solid businesses that will provide jobs and add to the tax base,” Primm said.
Paul said Ollie’s is expected to open in late October and will occupy more than 30,000 square feet in the former Kmart space, built in 1981.
Dollar Tree will occupy about 12,700 square feet and is slated for a late September opening, Paul said.
“Along with the new store fronts and interior remodeling, we will have new sidewalks, landscaping upgrades, paving and resealing, LED parking lot lights and building lights,” he said.
In addition, the plaza entrance sign along Route 56 was refurbished with LED lighting.
Crews were working on the exterior of the plaza, not far from the huge “K” that once spelled Kmart on the building.
Township Supervisor Michael Korns said the businesses are nothing but positive for the economic landscape of the township.
“I’m happy to welcome two more businesses to Allegheny Township. When I met with Jeff Paul last October, I promised him the township would do everything we could to make his project a success,” Korns said.
“I’ve seen this firsthand, as our staff, the sewage authority and our planning commission worked with Mr. Paul to complete his plans. I knew we did our job when Mr. Paul told me recently it’s been his pleasure to work with the township.”
The exterior renovations are expected to be completed by year’s end.
“The existing tenants are very happy with the upgrades,” Paul said.
The two businesses join a pair of newer tenants in the plaza — Pizza Hut and East Suburban Sports Medicine Center — as well as Pink Nails, Asia Cuisine, Family Dollar, Label Shopper, Anytime Fitness, McDonald’s, Howard Hanna and the Eye Care Center.
Dollar Tree, headquartered in Chesapeake, Va., exceeded more than $25 billion in annual sales in 2020.
It operates more than 15,000 stores nationwide in 48 states.
In 2022, Dollar Tree rolled out a $1.25 price-point initiative, the first price change in 36 years.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is based in Harrisburg and has 480 stores in the U.S.
The largest retailer of excess inventory and closeout merchandise, Ollie’s sells name-brand merchandise in all departments with a “good stuff cheap” motto.
Supervisor James Morabito praised Paul’s development skills.
“More businesses are coming to Allegheny Township, and Jeff is an excellent developer,” Morabito said. “I knew he would fill this plaza rather quickly. He’s done a beautiful job with the facades.
:Prior to 2022, Allegheny Township was headed in the wrong direction with a lack of businesses. Allegheny Township is definitely on the right track now to becoming bigger and better than it ever has been.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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