Developer Frank Kass is working to score another success by rejuvenating the Galleria in Mt. Lebanon, and a renovation, increased sales by existing businesses and string of new tenants has occupancy approaching 90 percent.
The latest are two new restaurants that are eyeing spots in the shopping complex.
Houlihan's Restaurant, the popular casual dining outlet whose current site in Bethel Park is the likely spot for a new Walgreen's drug store, is one of those considering relocation to the 165,000-square-foot South Hills complex.
It could be joined by a Mitchell's Fish Market, an upscale seafood restaurant, said Kass, chairman of Continental Real Estate Cos., owner of the mall.
"We have a lease out for signing," said Kass of Houlihan's, which would be located at the first-floor site of the former London Grille.
The proposed Mitchell's would be on the second floor. It is a brand of the Columbus-based Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, which has one other outlet at the successful Waterfront complex in Homestead, which was developed by Continental.
"It's not final yet, but I can confirm we are in negotiations for a restaurant at the Galleria," said Carolyn Delp, vice president of marketing for Cameron Mitchell.
Addition of the new restaurants would be the latest in a string of new tenants lured by Continental and its leasing agent, Hugh "Herky" Pollock, of CB Richard Ellis/Pittsburgh, to the Galleria since the company purchased the complex for $17 million in 2002.
The mall, at the corner of Gilkeson and Washington roads, started as a Kaufmann's department store and was turned into a mall in 1988. It was more than a quarter empty when Continental took over, but the company has since completed $1.5 million in interior renovations, and Kass said occupancy would be near 90 percent if Houlihan's and Mitchell's locate there.
In the meantime, overall sales for existing merchants are up 25 percent over 2003 sales, he said.
"Everyone is happy," said Diane Lichauer, manager of the Galleria. She pointed out a vacant first-level spot that in July will become a Jannie and Jack retail shop, a store that carries clothing, accessories and gifts for infants to 3-year-old toddlers. It is one of the brand stores of the Gymboree Corp., which operates two other outlets at the Galleria.
The store, which will occupy part of the space formerly occupied by a Gap outlet, will be adjacent to an Ann Taylor clothing outlet, which has temporarily relocated until a renovation is completed that will expand its space under terms of a recently renewed lease.
Another existing retailer that recently expanded is the Footloose shoe and clothing outlet, where business owner Michael Rubinstein, a tenant at the mall for 12 years, reports business is on the upswing.
"We've been here through some of the darkest days, but it's gotten a lot better in the last several years," Rubinstein said.
New retailers opened last year included women's clothing outlet Anthropologie and Pottery Barn Kids, while eateries added included Ben and Jerry's kiosk and South City Grill last year and Bravo Cucina Italiana and Starbucks Coffee this year.
The changes please Christine Guba, a Mt. Lebanon resident who was visiting the Galleria to shop Wednesday morning.
"I think it's great that they got more stores," she said. "It was always dressy, but now I think they are getting a little bit more of everything."
Guba said Ann Taylor is among her favorite retailing outlets there.
"I think the Galleria is the preferred choice," said Jan Biro, manager of Houlihan's, which is owned by the Kansas City., Mo.,-based Houlihan's Restaurant Inc. chain. Biro said she did not know when the move would take place, but she confirmed that the restaurant's location at the intersection of Fort Couch Road and Washington Road is to be a new Walgreen's location.
The Bethel Park Planning Commission last month approved plans proposed by a development company WinBethel Associates, to build a new Walgreen's, said Municipal Planner Jerry Duke. The approval is contingent on the company securing a highway occupancy permit from the state Department of Transportation.
