Greengate Centre names stores
Eight restaurants, a Marriott Corp. hotel, a Panera Bread store and a Starbucks are among the tenants that will help open the Greengate Centre shopping complex now under construction in Hempfield Township.
When it opens in the spring, the 326,000-square-foot Greengate Centre -- being developed by THF Realty -- will replace the former Greengate Mall.
THF Realty founder and President Michael Staenberg said Wednesday that the project is 96 percent leased, led by the primary tenant, a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Staenberg hosted local political leaders and workers at the rapidly rising complex.
"There has been more retail demand for space than supply," Staenberg said. "We love this area."
In a roughly two-mile straight line along Route 30 west of Greensburg in Hempfield Township, THF owns and operates two other shopping centers, containing more than half a million square feet of tenant space. Staenberg said that between the new plaza and the nearby Hempfield Plaza, which will be renovated and revamped, THF will spend some $80 million, create 2,000 new jobs, and retailers will annually generate some $150 million in sales.
"I see this project as definitely a shot in the arm for Hempfield Township," said Bob Regola, chairman of the township supervisors. "It was well thought out, including road improvements to Route 30, and we are really excited about it."
Among previously unnamed tenants slated to open at Greengate Centre are Smokey Bones BBQ, Red Robin restaurant, GNC, T-Mobile, Fantastic Sam's, Subway, Sally's Beauty Supply, a PNC Bank branch and Starbucks. They will join a number of well-known retailers committed to the project, including Chili's, Outback Steakhouse, Radio Shack, GameStop, Payless ShoeSource, Ultra Nails, Jo-Ann Fabric, Petco, King's Jewelry, Ryan's Steakhouse, Arby's and Chick-Fil-A.
For the first time, Staenberg confirmed what has been rumored for months: a Marriott-flagged hotel will occupy land that once served as part of an employee parking lot just west of the main center.
"We are very close on a deal with the hotel. It will be Marriott, but I can't really say which brand," Staenberg said. A restaurant, currently unnamed, will be adjacent to the hotel.
Also part of the new Greengate Centre will be Murphy USA, the retail gasoline unit of Murphy Oil Corp. and a long-time partner with Wal-Mart in some 21 states. The Murphy location is believed to be the first at a Pennsylvania Wal-Mart.
Staenberg also gave more details concerning Hempfield Boulevard, the so-called connector road that will begin at North Greengate Road and circle behind the new Greengate Centre, Ferrante's Lakeview and behind yet another THF development, the nearby Hempfield Plaza, before connecting with Route 30. The idea is to take some of the traffic volume off Route 30 fronting the new plaza.
"The road will be two lanes and divided, but it can easily go to four lanes. We've graded it to accommodate four lanes should the traffic volume dictate it," said Staenberg.
Hempfield Plaza likewise will be redeveloped, with the existing Wal-Mart razed once the Greengate Supercenter opens, making way for the area's first Sam's Club. In addition, the freestanding building at Hempfield Plaza's southern end, one housing a UPMC health care facility and then a Veteran's Administration facility, will be home to a Massa restaurant. To the west, in another corner of the Hempfield Plaza property, a building that for many years housed Blockbuster will be the new home of a Cici's Pizza. Again, Murphy will operate one of its multi-pump gasoline stations on site.
"We've taken the existing mall, an economic dinosaur, and we are recreating a vibrant, economic boom," Staenberg said. He added that with Hempfield Plaza, Hempfield Pointe and now Greengate Centre in the local THF portfolio, the company is looking locally for more retail opportunities.
"Right now we're just looking, but we feel this is a tremendous area," Staenberg said. "I would build new or buy."
