Elton Road and Theatre Drive
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Ground was broken for Greater Johnstown's first shopping mall on May 3, 1973. The single-level complex was built on 58.9 acres, located 4.8 miles southeast of downtown Johnstown. The site was situated in an unincorporated section of Cambria County known as Richland Township. The Co-Operative Theater Service Richland Drive-In Theater operated there between 1949 and 1970.
RICHLAND MALL was built by a joint venture of James O'Rourke and James Streeter, of the Michigan-based Unimich Development Corporation, and the local Somerset Trust Company. The fully-enclosed complex encompassed 650,000 leasable square feet and contained over sixty stores and services. There would eventually be eighty-four.
Three major stores anchored the mall. A 1-level (84,000 square foot) Kmart was launched on October 9, 1974. A 1-level (70,000 square foot), Johnstown-based Penn Traffic department store opened on October 14. The dedication of a 1-level (86,400 square foot) Sears was held on November 4 of the same year.
A mall-wide grand opening was held at this time, with a ceremonial ribbon being cut at the main mall entrance. In attendance were US Congressman John P. Murtha (D) and several local dignitaries and department store officials.
The main feature of the complex was a sunken garden at the center of the center. Recessed several feet below floor level, it included lush, tropical plantings and a series of waterfalls. Garden areas were also located at the Sears and Kmart mall entries.
Charter RICHLAND MALL tenants included Jane Hunter Fashions, GNC, Spencer Gifts, Thom McAn Shoes, Thrift Drugs, a Sweet William Restaurant, (35,000 square foot) Shop 'n Save supermarket and County Amusement Company Duke + Duchess Twin Theatres.
Anchor store conversions commenced in the early 1980s. Six Penn-Traffic department stores were sold to the Johnstown-based Crown American Corporation, who also owned the Allentown-based Hess's chain. The RICHLAND MALL Penn Traffic was remodeled and re-opened, as a Hess's, on March 20, 1982.
A section of the mall's supermarket was reconfigured as the County Amusement Company Richland Mall Cinemas in 1989. This new facility operated along with the existing Duke + Duchess Twin for a time. The latter had been shuttered by 1991.
Soon after, a formidable retail rival entered the picture. GALLERIA JOHNSTOWN {1.1 mile northeast, in Cambria County} was dedicated on October 21, 1992. This new superregional center spanned 895,000 leasable square feet. It snatched the RICHLAND MALL Sears, with the vacant space being filled by a Massachusetts-based Hills discount mart.
As a competitive measure, RICHLAND MALL had been given a face lift during 1992. This project included the removal of the sunken garden in Center Court. This was filled in and replaced by a carousel. New tile flooring was installed throughout the complex and its exterior refinished with stucco surfaces.
Twenty stores in the Hess's chain, including the RICHLAND MALL unit, were sold to York-based The Bon Ton in August 1994. The Bon Ton opened for business at the mall in May 1995. Hills was shuttered in March 1999. It re-opened, as a Connecticut-based Ames, in July of the same year.
By this time, GALLERIA JOHNSTOWN was firmly established as the region's preeminent shopping center. RICHLAND MALL was in a downward spiral. The Bon Ton closed in January 1997. On March 1, 1998, mall corridors were closed off, leaving only the hallway stretching between the Big Kmart mall entry and adjacent northeast mall entrance open. The exterior-entranced Ames and multiplex cinema also remained in business.
Ames closed its doors for good in October 2001. Soon after, Ohio's Heritage Development acquired the past-its-prime property. Big Kmart rang up its final sale on May 23, 2003. The bulk of RICHLAND MALL was then demolished. Its cinema and outparcel Michaels (in the old Sears Auto Center structure) were temporarily left standing.
A 490,000 square foot power plaza, known as RICHLAND TOWN CENTRE, was built. Its 1-level (203,600 square foot) Wal-Mart SuperCenter welcomed first shoppers on October 27, 2004. Original stores and services included a (21,600 square foot) Michael's, (23,600 square foot) Ross Dress For Less, (25,200 square foot) T.J. Maxx & More and County Amusement Company Richland Cinemas (a 10-screen venue).
Sources:
The Tribune Democrat (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)
The Daily American (Somerset, Pennsylvania)
The Indiana Gazette (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
http://www.therichlandmall.com (defunct website)
Cambria County, Pennsylvania property tax assessor website
http://www.mcgillpropertygroup.com / McGill Property Group
