Giant Eagle Plaza (Erie, Pennsylvania)

Giant Eagle Plaza, formerly Eastway Plaza is a power center 5.3 miles (8.5 km) northeast of downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, between Buffalo Road, Parker Avenue and Nagle Road in Harborcreek Township, a suburb of Erie. The power center currently has one open anchor which is Giant Eagle.
== History ==
On August 15, 1959, Eastway Plaza had officially opened to the public with 17 store spaces, opening with 4 anchor spaces which were Miller's, Cook's Market, Nu-Way Markets and H.L. Green. Other original tenants included Shoe Corp of America, Rieck's Dairy, Zehe's Bakery, Thrift Drug, Union Bank and much more. In March 1961, Nu-Way Markets was converted to Acme Markets. In 1972, Dipson Circuit opened a two-screen cinema in the west end of the Eastway Plaza. In 1975, Miller's closed down but was replaced with Dahlkemper's two years later in 1977. Also in 1975, Arthur Treacher's was opened outside of the Eastway Plaza, however it would only last six years when it closed in 1981. In 1978, Sambo's would open outside of the Eastway Plaza near Buffalo Road, Sambo's would only last for two years when it closed in from bankruptcy in 1981 and became Raymond's Restaurant in 1984. In 1979, Union Bank closed their Eastway Plaza branch and relocated across the street in a new building. In 1987, Eastway Plaza North had opened which added a third anchor which was Fashion Bug, as well as a bunch of new restaurants and stores opening up in the new building. Also in 1987, Taco Bell opened a restaurant in Eastway Plaza North. In 1994, Dahlkemper's closed down due to bankruptcy. In January 1993, Loblaws was converted into Quality Markets after the companies purchase.
== Decline ==
Decline started to the Eastway Plaza when a new shopping center was built in 1987, which was anchored by Giant Eagle named the Giant Eagle Plaza. As a result, some stores from the Eastway Plaza relocated out to join the brand new Giant Eagle Plaza. As years went on into the 1990's, Eastway Plaza shortly began to empty out. Due to the shopping center not attracting much people anymore, Taco Bell and Eckerd both relocated out of the plaza on an outparcel which was formerly Arthur Treacher's which was demolished, they both opened in 1999. The Plaza Cinemas would close in 1997 due to not being able to afford to keep it open, it would however reopen again in 2003. In 1998, there was plans to add an indoor entertainment complex to the Eastway Plaza as an attempt to bring the plaza back, plans however didn't work and the entertainment complex never came to be. In 2001, Cafaro Company sold Eastway Plaza to Benderson Development Company, which resulted in an upgrade being done to the exterior to the plaza as an attempt to get more stores to open, this however did not work and more stores continued to leave. As the early 2000's went on, more and more stores closed down at Eastway Plaza. On December 21, 2003, Quality Markets closed down due to the parent company Penn Traffic was closing stores to save money during the companies bankruptcy. Another closure occured on March 9, 2005 when REX TV & Appliances closed down as well. Also in 2005, the Eastway Plaza Cinemas closed down once again as a result of the owners not being able to afford to keep it open. However a Quiznos Sub did open in the former Payless ShoeSource space the same year. Two more stores closed down in 2006, first being JoAnn Fabrics on June 1, 2006, then Pulakos Chocolate on August 19, 2006. On April 9, 2007, Wine & Spirits closed down at Eastway Plaza and relocated to the Giant Eagle Plaza. In 2008, Cici's Pizza opened in the former Wine & Spirits space.
== Redevelopment ==
In 2011, Giant Eagle, announced plans to relocate and demolish the vacant portion of the plaza and keep the vacant Quality Markets part and the Eastway Plaza North building. In August 2011, half of Eastway Plaza was completely demolished and construction began to build a brand new Giant Eagle store. On June 14, 2012, the brand new 90,000 square foot Giant Eagle officially opened up to the public, the grand opening celebration included a ribbon cutting ceremony and a local band performing outside of the store. The shopping center was then renamed from Eastway Plaza to Giant Eagle Plaza, which Benderson also redeveloped the exteriors of the remaining areas of the plaza once again to try and attract more businesses. The same year, a Snap Fitness opened, splitting the former movie theater in half. During this time, Giant Eagle Plaza had only 10 stores which were RadioShack, NAPA Auto Parts, Fashion Bug, Snap Fitness, Sherwin Williams, Foxy Nails, Edible Arrangements, H&R Block, Total Tan and Cici’s Pizza. In February 2013, Fashion Bug closed down due to bankruptcy. In 2013, Benderson began construction on a brand new outparcel plaza next to the Taco Bell and a new GetGo would open right next door the same year. The new shopping center opened in 2014 and included tenants such as Panera Bread, GameStop, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sally's Beauty Supply. In 2016, Pet Supplies Plus opened in half of the vacant Quality Markets space, splitting it in half.
== Second Decline ==
As time went on, not many stores opened as Benderson hoped for, most of the remaining parts of the old Eastway Plaza are still currently vacant even after Giant Eagle's opening, as well as more store closures were added. In 2013, NAPA Auto Parts moved out of the plaza and moved to nearby Wesleyville. Then in 2015, RadioShack closed down due to bankruptcy, both spaces still remain vacant. In 2020, Wine & Spirits signed a lease at the Giant Eagle Plaza and came back to the shopping center after 13 years and opened in the former Fashion Bug space after being vacant for 7 years, the space was split in half. In 2018, Total Tan closed and became Zoom Tan a year later in 2019. In 2020, Cici's Pizza closed down and was left vacant. Later in 2021, the right side of the former Fashion Bug space became a Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center. In 2022, Chipotle opened on an outparcel on the left of Rite Aid in a former parking lot. On December 5, 2022, Snap Fitness closed at Giant Eagle Plaza and relocated to East 38th Street in Erie, the relocation happened due to the high rent at the shopping center. On December 13, 2022, Starbucks announced to open a location in an empty grass field behind the Rite Aid store.
Category:Malls in the United States
Category:Malls in Pennsylvania
Category:Dead Malls
Category:Erie County, Pennsylvania
Category:Malls that opened in 1959
Category:Former Loblaws-anchored Properties
Category:Former Dahlkemper's-anchored Properties
Category:Giant Eagle-anchored Properties
Category:Former Quality Markets-anchored Properties
Category:Former Miller's-anchored Properties
Category:Former Dollar General-anchored Properties
Category:Benderson Development
Category:Former Cafaro Company Properties