Wegmans grocery store coming to Mt. Lebanon’s Galleria
A Wegmans supermarket will be taking up residence in the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon, it was announced Thursday.
It will be the second Wegmans outlet in the Pittsburgh region, following a 115,000-square-foot store that is set to open in Cranberry Township about a year from now. The grocery store will serve as the anchor tenant in what is being described as a “reimagined” Galleria.
Originally built as a Kaufmann’s department store more than 60 years ago, the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon opened in 1989 after being converted into an indoor shopping center. It was purchased by Washington, D.C.-based Roadside Development earlier this year.
Jeff Edelstein, the company’s president, said in a news release, “For decades, the Galleria has been part of the fabric of the South Hills community. Bringing Wegmans to the former Kaufmann’s site creates an opportunity to build on that history and give residents another reason to make the Galleria part of their everyday lives.”
Edelstein added, “We’re focused on positioning the property for long-term success while honoring the role it has played in the community.”
The announcement ends weeks of rumors and speculation about the fate of the Galleria, which were fueled by the closure of the Bravo! Italian Kitchen restaurant in September and the shuttering of the Galleria’s six-screen movie theater last weekend. Renovations of the shopping center are expected to begin in 2028.
Once the store opens, competition for grocery shoppers in the area will become even more heated – it will be located across Route 19 from a Fresh Market store, and just a couple of miles from a Giant Eagle Market District location, a Whole Foods store and the Target outlet inside the South Hills Village mall, which has a limited selection of groceries. Trader Joe’s grocery store is nearby as well.
“The redevelopment of the Galleria represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen one of Mt. Lebanon’s key commercial destinations,” according to Keith McGill, Mt. Lebanon’s municipal manager. “We are pleased to work alongside Roadside Development to bring new investment and energy to the property. The addition of Wegmans is a significant milestone that will not only support the Galleria’s long-term success but also bring a highly anticipated amenity to our residents and the surrounding community.”
Developers say the Wegmans store at the Galleria will take up about 110,000 square feet, and will have produce, seafood, meat, bakery, deli, cheese and restaurant foods, along with a selection of beer and wine. Wegmans is primarily based on the East Coast, with more than 100 stores in the supermarket chain.