Oct 18, 2015 4 min read

The landscape of the Old Mill shopping complex is changing along with the leaves.

Three businesses will launch this fall in the center off Route 19 in South Strabane Township. And the openings will bring about a closing.

“All of our existing buildings are 100 percent leased,” said Andy Boyd, senior asset manager for TSG Properties, the St. Louis-based owner of the 104-acre project.

The final leasees in this part of the project are: Heartland Dental, on the far left of the strip as it faces Route 19 (Washington Road); Comcast Xfinity down and to the right of the dental facility; and Paint With a Twist, between Five Below and Hobby Lobby.

Although the project is leased out to this point, Boyd declined to call this “Phase 1” of Old Mill. He said TSG is “leasing for the next set of buildings” to be constructed on the property, where land subsidence issues scuttled The Foundry retail project nearly a decade ago.

Boyd said TSG will wait for a first tenant to sign a lease before determining the size of the structure to be built. He added that a signed lease could occur “in the foreseeable future.”

The mermaid is submerging.

Sirena Taco Joint & Bar, in the Donaldson’s Crossroads Shopping Center, will shut down at the end of business Saturday. Sirena, Spanish for mermaid, has been open for about a year and a half on the East McMurray Road end of the complex. Varieties of fish tacos were among its calling cards.

The owner, Doreen Valentine, announced the pending closure Tuesday on Facebook. She posted: “I have made the difficult decision to close Sirena. Our little taco joint has been struggling to survive for quite some time and I just can’t keep my head above water anymore.

“We’ve built quite a loving family here amongst the staff and our regulars and it’s sad to say goodbye. Our last day will be Saturday, October 24th. Stop in and enjoy a taco and a drink one last time or for the first time if you have never visited before.”

She added: “If you are interested in buying the restaurant or taking over our space, please contact me at doreenvalentine@gmail.com. Most importantly, if you are hiring and can provide jobs for some of my employees, please contact me ASAP!”

Valentine opened in the spring of 2014 in the same 3,050-square-foot space where she had operated Dozen Bake Shop. She shuttered that shop in September 2013 after three months in business.

Speaking about tacos …

Clang! Taco Bell intends to double its Washington County presence.

Charter Foods, parent company of the Mexican restaurant chain, will be opening a location on Route 19 in Peters Township. The 2,527-square-foot facility is going up on what had been a vacant lot next to Walgreens, near East McMurray Road. Planning director Ed Zuk estimated a mid- to late November opening.

Eight miles to the south, also along Washington Road, Charter Foods plans to erect a Taco Bell in Northgate Plaza in South Strabane Township. Municipal Manager John Stickle said the company intends to demolish the structure that previously housed Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and erect a building nearby.

Zuk said Charter Foods is seeking two variances at the Peters venue: to have signs, with the trademark bell, on three sides of the building, whereas the township ordinance allows one; and to have a 44-square-foot menu board instead of the 36-square-foot requirement.

Charter Foods will take its requests to the Peters zoning hearing board Tuesday evening. Zuk said the planning board will recommend approval of the larger menu board and a sign facing Route 19, but is opposed to the other two signs.

Stickle said the company’s next move in South Strabane will be to present a land development plan at a future planning commission meeting.

Taco Bell currently has two locations in the county: Washington (West Chestnut Street) and Canonsburg (Cavasina Drive). Greene County has one, in Greene Plaza, Franklin Township.

Colony Factory Crafted Homes of Pennsylvania recently honored Route 21 Homes LLC of Carmichaels with its 2014 Top 10 Single Sales Center Sales Volume Award, which goes to the Colony retailer with the highest annual sales volume. Route 21 Homes is at 2118 E. Roy Furman Highway.