A relic of retail
What is now referred to as Pittsburgh’s North Side originally existed as its own city. Intended to be the seat of Allegheny County, Allegheny City was absorbed by its much larger neighbor just after the beginning of the twentieth center. And that former city’s central area is what is now known as Allegheny Center.
1 to 7- The façade of the former Allegheny Center Mall facing South Commons. 8 & 9- The exterior of the former Sears store. 10- The center off of West Commons.
To this day, mid-twentieth century urban renewal is as controversial a topic as it was when the development was conceived in the years following World War II. For Allegheny Center, much of the historic downtown of the former Allegheny City was removed via eminent domain.
1 to 3- The western façade of the former Allegheny Center Mall. 4- The facility with the Pittsburgh skyline in the distance. 5- The rear facing brick walls of the building. 6 & 7- Popular restaurant Federal Galley is one of the few commercial tenants at Nova Place. 8 to 10- The northwestern mall entrance.
What remains today is the death of a dream cloaked in the dark glass and steel robes of mid-century modern architectural design. And a distressed neighborhood whose fortunes were upended by the same policies designed to offer an improved way of life.
Allegheny Center Mall lease plan ca. 1965. View the full PDF version here.
On my recent trip to Pittsburgh’s North Side, located across the Allegheny River from the city’s downtown, there wasn’t much going on. No games were scheduled for either Heinz Field or PNC Park and there were even fewer in what was designed to be the area’s retail anchor, Allegheny Center Mall.
1- A stairwell just inside the building’s northwestern entrance. All escalators have been removed from the common areas. 2 to 6- The updated first level of the western wing of the former Allegheny Center Mall. 7- Center court. 8- The eastern concourse on the lower tier. 9- Gecko Robotics located at what used to be the mall entrance to anchor Zayre. 10- Just inside the northeastern mall entrance.
Mid-century modern architecture, while far from being my favorite style, I have learned to appreciate over the years. And, like my hometown’s county courthouse, the Allegheny Center displays this style proudly, much to the displeasure of the average onlooker.
1- The upper level mall entrance to former anchor Zayre. 2 to 5- The eastern end of the second floor. 6 to 8- Center court from the upper mezzanine.
In both cases, that can be understood considering what they replaced. The Allegheny Center Mall opened in 1965 close to the site of the 1863 erected Old Allegheny Market House. In addition to the retail building, dimly tinted mid-rise office buildings and red brick residential blocks were also developed.
1 to 4- The western upper tier of the former Allegheny Center Mall. 5- Behind this wall was once the second floor mall entry to Sears. 6- Looking out to the northwestern courtyard and entrance. 7- The full length of the main concourse. 8- Descending to the northwestern entrance.
Sears debuted as the shopping facility’s anchor on the western end while discount retailer Zayre made their home on the east end. In between was a two level arcade of smaller inline shops and restaurants, including an FW Woolworth Five & Dime.
1 to 6- The common areas behind the former Allegheny Center Mall. 7 & 8- The central entrance in the rear of the facility.
Though the mall saw success in its initial years, it wasn’t long before competition further out in the suburbs eroded its trade market. Retailers began clearing out in the late eighties and early nineties following Sears departure for suburban Ross Park Mall in 1986.
Nova Place Mallmanac ca. 2024. View the full PDF version here.
Over the ensuing decades, Allegheny Center Mall sat mainly vacant until Faros Properties purchased the moribund facility. This new entrant arrived with their sights set on developing the complex into a technology focused office complex.
1- An Allegheny Center office block located in the rear of the former Allegheny Center Mall in all of its mid-century glory. 2 to 6- Around the northeastern mall entrance and the grassy courtyard behind the main facility. 7- The skyscrapers of downtown Pittsburgh from the mall’s eastern end. 8- A shot of what remains of the historic center of Allegheny City just behind Nova Place.
The main concourse has been modernized to host everything from technology startups to engineering firms to beauty schools. There is also a small selection of eateries including the highly praised and popular restaurant Federal gallery.
1- The former Allegheny Center Mall’s east end with Pittsburgh to the south. 2- The office tower located to the complex’s east. 3 to 8- The main building off of East Commons as well as the southeastern corner.
While Allegheny Center Mall may never see the amount of patrons that it was originally intended to host, it does seem to have found its place in the community. Though we can never regain what was lost to make way for the development, in the very least it’s not being left to decay.
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