FRAZER — Amid the scattered collections of cardboard boxes, half-filled display cases and mannequins in various stages of dress, workers were putting the final touches on the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills to prepare for today's grand opening.
"We will be open (today), whatever it takes," said Jeff Smith, manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates Clubhouse store where workers weaved around stacks of cardboard boxes, unpacking jerseys while others finished installing and tweaking the fluorescent lights above.
"I don't know how long we'll be here, but we'll be rushing," Smith said. "The regular phone lines, cable TV, some of the electricity, all that stuff needs to be done today (Wednesday)."
"We have a team of 10 working on the store," Smith said. "When we open, we'll have six plus myself."
David Macdonald, mall general manager, said each store is on its own schedule, so while some have been set to open, others will be working to the last minute.
"It's amazing how everything is coming together," Macdonald said.
As many store employees stocked shelves inside their storefronts, mall crews threaded their way through the aisles, pushing mops and brooms to catch any leftover construction debris.
"They might find a cracked tile that needs replaced and are making sure all the lights work," Macdonald said.
At the 18-screen Cinemark theater, one woman in an employees' uniform wiped off the ticket podium as another worker set up a ladder to fill out the blank list of movies near the concession stand.
"We're pretty ready to go," said Valerie Shortall, marketing manager for Cinemark. She said much of the last-minute work was getting sound and light fixtures ready.
In the short time between when everything is clean and in place and when the doors open today at 9 a.m., the 1.1 million-square-foot mall will enjoy some peace.
Said Macdonald, "The people who have worked on the project say that before the customers come in, about 6 a.m. or so, it's so beautiful and quiet."
