‘Warehouse club’ may be coming to Washington Mall site
Mike Jones/Observer-Reporter
South Strabane Township supervisors will consider an application for a “retail warehouse club” at the current site of Washington Mall.
Officials will consider an application from developer 79/70 Associates at a public hearing scheduled during their monthly meeting at 6 p.m. March 25.
Last month the Washington County commissioners announced that federal stimulus funding would supplement the razing of the mall to support new development. The conditional use application submitted to South Strabane by 79/70 Associates states it is “proposing to construct a new 152,000-square-foot retail warehouse club and fuel station.” The developers are seeking permission to operate a vehicle service station at the business.
A retail store of that scope and description seems to point to a members-only retail store, such as Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club or Sam’s Club. A Sam’s Club already exists in South Strabane at Trinity Point Drive, and there is a BJ’s location in Bridgeville off of Interstate 79. The average size of a Costco is 147,000 square feet.
Kristin Hullihen, the township’s director of planning and zoning, said officials are not privy to what specific business 79/70 Associates is proposing.
Supervisor Jeff Bull said county commissioners told him and other supervisors there would be an announcement regarding the proposal at Washington County Real Estate Expo being held today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Washington & Jefferson College.
“There is supposed to be an announcement (today),” Bull said. “That’s what we were told. I am grateful that someone is developing the mall.”
Bull added he takes issue with the development being subsidized with tax dollars.
The commissioners previously said the demolition is being funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act money designated for blight removal.
The application from 79/70 Associates notes an exception for the portion of the mall that once housed Toys ‘R Us and Giant Eagle, where the developer is planning a recreational vehicle dealership and service center respectively.
Hullihen said their application for a use by special exception was approved by the township zoning hearing board Monday evening. According to Bull, representatives of 79/70 Associates offered a few details about the dealership.
“They did say last night it was going to be a Campers Inn,” Bull said.
Campers Inn RV, part of a national chain, previously had a location on South Johnson Road in Chartiers Township. The company’s Facebook page last posted in December 2023 that it was closing temporarily and moving to a new location.