The HomeXpo scheduled for mid-February at the Pittsburgh Mills mall has been put on hold because organizers haven’t been able to attract enough vendors.

“It was a big decision for us to hold off,” said Lynda Pozzuto, executive director of the Alle Kiski Strong Chamber, which sponsors the annual event. “We didn’t want anyone to be disappointed.”

Jenn Tompkins, owner of Rent the Chicken in Freeport, said her business opted out of the show because of a scheduling conflict.

Instead, Tompkins will take her homesteading venture — which offers people the chance to rent a coop, hens and feed — to the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show.

That event, March 8-17, boasts 1,500 exhibitors at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

While the shows aren’t the same dates, Tompkins said she will be prepping for the Pittsburgh show in February.

“It just exposes us to more people,” she said. “It is very large.”

The local HomeXpo, which began in the early 2000s at the former Montgomery Ward store in Lower Burrell, drew big crowds in its heyday. People could peruse all things home improvement-related, from gutter guards to security systems, to heating and air conditioning installers.

The free, three-day extravaganza drew hundreds of visitors, who took in live entertainment and enjoyed a walk around the mall in Frazer.

The 80-or-so vendors often also included displays of gourmet snacks, wine slushies and other treats.

Nonprofits and volunteer groups also made a showing. Frankie’s Friends, a volunteer cat shelter in New Kensington, took adoption applications and offered handmade animal toys.

“It was always a big draw,” Pozzuto said. “We always did very well. We have to step back and reevaluate what we need to do moving forward.”

A representative of ZKrew, a Kittanning company that specializes in security systems, said the company would not be participating this year because it has enough work lined up.

The Alle Kiski Strong Chamber took a four-year hiatus during covid. This would have been the first year the home show returned.

The postponement is disappointing, Pozzuto said, but there are other events lined up for the public to enjoy.

On March 14, the group is hosting a Women’s Health and Wellness Fair at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Harrison.

From noon to 4 p.m., visitors can attend the free event that features speakers, a fashion show, a self-defense demonstration and bone density screenings by UPMC.

“We’ll even have some belly dancing just for fun,” Pozzuto said.

For details, visit allekiskistrong.com.

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