Walmart plans to demolish Monroeville Mall, according to state grant bid

For the first time since it purchased Monroeville Mall in February, Walmart has declared its intent for the 186-acre property.

The mall is expected to be demolished and replaced with retail and public space, according to a state grant application Walmart submitted last month through limited-liability corporation South Saturn Ridge.

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, state funding awarded by the Office of the Budget, recently posted its applicants for 2025 — including Monroeville Mall. The window to apply for funding closed Sept. 23. A public comment period on the projects is set to run through Oct. 30.

If awarded, the Monroeville Mall’s $7.5 million application would entail a “full demolition of the existing mall structures, clearing the site entirely for redevelopment,” according to the application.

New retail, restaurant, entertainment and public open spaces would be constructed, it says.

“The Monroeville Mall Economic Revitalization Project will transform the space into a modern, mixed-use destination that strengthens the regional economy,” the application says.

Walmart purchased the mall from CBL Properties in February for about $34 million, indicating its interest in redeveloping the site. It hired Texas-based real estate firm Cypress Equities to assist in the process.

Cypress Equities declined to comment on the future of the mall.

@triblive The Monroeville Mall is expected to be demolished and replaced with retail and public space, according to a state grant application Walmart submitted #monroeville #mall #pittsburgh #news #shopping ♬ original sound - TribLive

The grocery store giant also purchased several pieces of property near the main mall building, including the Barnes & Noble, JC Penney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy and a 32,000-square-foot commercial auxiliary building that was formerly home to KeyBank.

Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock told TribLive in August that Walmart had not submitted plans for the property to the municipality. Any redevelopment plans, he said, must go through the Monroeville Planning Commission and receive final approval from council.

Cypress Equities spokesperson Tracy Cobb said in August the company hoped to “be in front of the public this fall.”

The company in 2003 demolished the former Greengate Mall and nearby Walmart, putting a Sam’s Club and Walmart Supercenter in its place.

Monroeville Mall, built in the late 1960s, was once a commercial anchor for the community. But the 1.2 million-square-foot property, similar to malls nationwide, has seen better days.

In 2008, it lost its anchor retailer, Boscov’s, when the company went through a bankruptcy and restructuring. In 2011, JCPenney — which has since closed and sold several of its locations nationwide — moved in the former Boscov’s space to make way for the Cinemark movie theatre.

The mall’s former owner, CBL, filed for bankruptcy in late 2020.

TribLive has reached out to Walmart for comment.