Warren Mall

Situated 4.1 miles (6.6 km) southeast of downtown Warren, Pennsylvania, the Warren Mall was a single-level shopping center nestled between Market Street and Conewango Creek in Conewango Township, a suburb of Warren.
Established in 1979, the mall was the brainchild of George Zamias, based in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and the owner of Zamias Services Inc. Notable anchors at the mall included Big Lots, Bon-Ton, and Kmart, complemented by a junior anchor, Label Shopper.
== Mall Opening ==
The inception of plans for the Warren Mall dates back to March 17, 1972, when Zamias outlined intentions to construct a shopping mall in the North Warren area. Later that year, Warren County granted approval for the construction of this new shopping destination. Kmart was the first to commit, signing a lease in late 1977, followed by JCPenney in the spring of 1978. JCPenney's decision to relocate from the Market Street Plaza in Warren to the new Warren Mall in Conewango Township, a suburb of Warren, solidified the mall's lineup.
On October 4, 1979, the Warren Mall officially opened its doors, featuring three major anchors: JCPenney, Kmart, and Bon-Ton. CVS also played a role as a small junior anchor within the mall. The initial year saw success as residents of Warren County welcomed the convenience of having a local shopping destination, eliminating the need to travel an hour to the Millcreek Mall in Erie, Pennsylvania, or visit the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood, New York, which was only about 20 minutes away.
Adjacent to the Warren Mall, a Kroger store and a three-screen movie theater were established. However, Kroger closed its doors in 1984, coinciding with the closure of all Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio locations.
== The Decline ==
The decline of Warren Mall commenced in the 1980s as the population of Warren County, Pennsylvania experienced a significant decrease. The population dwindled from 45,000 at the mall's inauguration to 41,000 within just two decades. Concurrently, Warren residents began frequenting Chautauqua Mall, which boasted a larger size and a more extensive array of shopping options compared to Warren Mall.
The mall's downturn accelerated when JCPenney closed its doors in 2000. Following this closure, a substantial number of other stores within the mall shuttered, leading to its eventual bankruptcy. Notably, the mall had never undergone renovations since its establishment in 1979, resulting in various issues such as broken flooring, missing ceiling tiles, and roof leakage in vacant stores with black mold.
In an effort to salvage the mall, Big Lots took over the former JCPenney space in 2003. Unfortunately, Big Lots eventually closed its doors in 2014. The space remained vacant until 2017 when it was divided into two separate entities. Dunham's Sports occupied the left side, and Ollie's Bargain Outlet took over the right side in 2018.
Further contributing to the mall's decline, Kmart shut down in 2014, and Bon-Ton persisted until its closure in 2018. CVS closed its doors in 2000, relocating to Downtown Warren. The vacated space briefly housed a Dollar General, and after its closure, it was converted into Label Shopper.
== Converting Into a Power Center ==
In 2018, Cocca Development, the owners of Warren Mall, announced their intention to revitalize the property by demolishing its interior and transforming the remaining space into an outdoor shopping center. The majority of the mall's interior was demolished that same year, leaving only a small section housing the former mall office, restrooms, and the entrance to the now-closed Bon-Ton. Initially, the construction company had planned to preserve the Bon-Ton space, anticipating the store's continued operation, but the company ultimately went out of business in 2018.
Presently, the shopping center comprises six stores: Dunham's Sports, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Shoe Dept. Encore, Lee Nails, Napoli Pizza, and Label Shopper. Plans are underway to demolish the former Kmart building to make room for a parking lot. Additionally, there are intentions to introduce new stores in the former Bon-Ton space; however, the owners are grappling with challenges in securing tenants willing to sign leases.
The former Warren Mall continues its redevelopment efforts into a shopping center, though a decision on renaming the establishment is still pending. 
Category:George Zamias
Category:Malls in the United States
Category:Malls in Pennsylvania
Category:Dead Malls
Category:Malls that opened in 1979
Category:Former JCPenney-anchored Malls
Category:Former Kmart-anchored Malls
Category:Former Bon-Ton-anchored Malls
Category:Former Malls