New lingerie store coming to Westmoreland Mall

After myriad closures at Westmoreland Mall, a new store is set to open.

Aerie, a lingerie and intimate apparel store, will open this spring in the former PacSun location, according to a sign posted outside the store. PacSun, an Anaheim, Calif.-based clothing store catering to teens and young adults, closed at the end of 2019.

The new store will be located next to the American Eagle clothing store. Aerie is a sub-brand of American Eagle Outfitters, which is based out of Pittsburgh’s South Side.

Other businesses have opened at the Hempfield mall including Knockerball Run, which is described as “bubble soccer” or a “human hamster ball” on the company’s website, and consists of an inflatable ball that covers the upper body.

The entertainment space originally opened late last year with a one month lease, according to owner Robert Rundle. A new lease was negotiated this year, allowing the store to reopen Feb. 1 with available hours Friday through Sunday and private event time slots during the week.

The renegotiated lease runs until May 1, when a new business is set to occupy the space, Rundle said, adding that he hopes to find another empty space at the mall to use.

Somerset Trust, a banking company, also opened in the mall’s food court late last year.

Over the past year, several stores have closed at the mall along Route 30, including two of its anchor tenants: Sears, which closed in March, and Bon-Ton, which closed in 2018. Construction on Live! Casino Pittsburgh is underway in the former Bon-Ton space, and will feature 750 slot machines and 30 table games, among other amenities, when it opens this year.

Sloppy Soap, which sells bath products, closed their brick-and-mortar location at the end of the year, owner Janelle Brunermer said. She is still operating online at Amazon.com and hopes to open another storefront in the near future. She added that she is taking the time to redo her website and Facebook page.

Other stores that have shuttered over the past year include Helzberg Diamonds, Charlotte Russe, Gymboree, Payless ShoeSource, Verizon Wireless, Sleep Number, New York & Company, PacSun and Kitchen Collection. Motherhood Maternity is slated to close this year.