Clearview Mall (Pennsylvania)
ClearView Mall is a shopping mall in Center Township, Pennsylvania near the city of Butler.
Overview
Clearview Mall, located north of Butler, Pennsylvania is an indoor mall that continues its success each year. It lies on Route 8, just one mile north of the city of Butler. Although the mall is constantly changing, it still remains a popular shopping destination for people from around the Butler area. In 1996, Pittsburgh-based J.J. Gumberg Company purchased Clearview Mall from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Clearview Mall is likely J.J. Gumberg's best property, as it continues to stay alive in some hard economic times. It now even must compete with Butler Crossing, a strip mall built in 2008 next to Butler Commons on New Castle Road/Route 356. Butler Crossing contains a Kohl's department store, along with Petco, Shoe Carnival, Michaels, and Dollar Tree. Despite surrounding retail, Clearview is faring well.
Location
Clearview Mall is located one mile north of Butler, Pennsylvania, on Route 8. It is easily accesible from Route 422. There really are only two signs along Route 422 advertising the mall, as of 2010. The one eastbound states: "Attraction, second right: Clearview Mall." The other, heading west, is only a Ponderosa Steakhouse sign, which states the exit number, and its location at the mall.
Features
Layout
Other than the Boscov's department store, the entire mall is one-story. The design of the mall is rather simple, as the main wing stretches from [...]'s Sporting Goods to Sears in a straight line. During the holiday season, you can not see to the other end of the mall. There are five "courts" at intervals throughout the mall. There is [...]'s Court, the Food Court, the Center Court (holds main events, and where the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus reside), Guest Services Court, and the Sears/Kids @ Play Court.
Architecture
Built in 1981, the mall shows little aging. The only indicators May Be the ceiling, with outdated, bluish square lighting, and the floor, made up of large, beige tiles. In some of the mall's courts, especially the Food Court, there are differing sizes and colors of tile. The mall features some large skylights; the largest of which can be found above the Food Court, Center Court, and Guest Services Court. The mall's theme color would have to be blue. Throughout the mall, there are blue painted poles as well as blue accent lines around skylights. The mall has many poles in the court areas. Each pole has four lights, one on each side. Even with the mall's age, its style is still fairly modern.
Department stores
The four current major department stores are Boscov's, J.C.Penny, The Bon-Ton and Sears. The only two-story store is Boscov's, which came to the mall around 1999. Other "big box" anchors include T.J. Maxx and [...]'s, which were built by dividing the old Ames store in half in a huge renevation. J.C.Penny added thousands more square feet to its store in the late 1990's.
Specialty stores
Currently, AbOUT 45 specialty stores are open in the mall, as well as about five kiosks. During the holiday season, however, the number of kiosks in the mall more than triples, and about five seasonal stores move in. Within the mall, there are many national and popular retailers, as well as some hometown stores. For one reason or another, there are numerous jewelry stores. Some of the mall's biggest names include: Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Borders Booksellers, Christopher and Banks, C.J. Banks, DEB Shop, Hallmark Gold Crown, Finish Line, Hot Topic, Kay Jewelers, New York and Company, Pac Sun, Payless Shoesource, and RadioShack.
Besides the popular retailers, there are a few "hometown" stores. The Truly Yours Giftshop is still located in the mall today; it is the last of its kind. There is also a huge Oak n' Country Store that continues to stay open year after year. Altmeyer's Western Wear, as well as New Dimension Comics are more unique stores to the mall.
Specialty food and restaurants
The Food Court contains most of the specialty eateries, but a few lay elsewhere in the mall. The restaurants in the Food Court are Antie Anne's Pretzels, Charley's Steakery, Garfield's Restaurant and Pub, Great American Cookies, Sbarro Fresh Italian Cooking, and Subway. Located away from the Food Court are Barkus Chocolates, Dynasty Buffet, Texas Roadhouse, and Chuck E. Cheese's Arcade.
At one time, Garfield's Restaurant was divided into many smaller restaurants. The Food Court also used to contain a Hershey's Ice Cream Shop (its "labelscar" can still be viewed today), Napoli Pizza, D'Vanzo's Pizza, Perk-Up CoFFEE Bar, China Express, The Bistra Cafe, and much more. Away from the Food Court, there was also a Tokyo Express restaurant, a seafood restaurant, and Cafe Clearview. It seems Clearview Mall could never support so many restaurants; there just aren't enough customers.
In early 2009, both Sbarro Italian Eatery and Hershey's Ice Cream went out of business. Sbarro Pizza sat dark for most of 2009, with its tables, decor, and ovens still remaining. Sbarro reopened in October of 2009, but Hershey's never returned to the mall.
Lounge areas/Kids @ Play area
Around 2006, the mall received lounge areas, complete with couches, chairs, tables, carpeting, and televisions. The areas were sponsored by Armstrong Cable. For whatever reason, the televisions were removed in 2009. That event surely took away from the purpose of the areas. These areas are comfortable, relaxing spots to kick back, and people-watch.
The mall also received a Kids @ Play Area, located in the Sears Court, around 2006. It was then sponsored by Step 2 Toys. The entire area was removed around 2008, likely due to a child's injuring. Luckily, it was brought back only a few weeks later, but with a new sponser; Playthings Etc. Also, near this area, there are some kiddie rides.
Business and foot traffic
Foot traffic
The Clearview Mall always has a good amount of customers. Even on the most beautiful Summer day, you'll still discover many teenagers, as well as adults, shopping throughout the mall. The mall's busiest day each week is definitely Saturday, right at the lunchtime hour. The busiest time of year is obviously Christmastime, and Clearview's traffic more than doubles around Christmas. It is an extremely busy place during the holiday season. Also, there are usually monthly events in the mall which keep business flowing nicely.
In and Out
Throughout the decades, the mall has come a long way. The years have brought much change, mostly affecting store vacancy rates. It seems when the mall loses a store, it gains a new one. There have been numerous store renevations, combinations, and vacancies over the years. Some businesses have remained in the mall since its opening in 1981, and others stay in business for only a few years after opening. If you name one current store in the mall, there has likely been another store in its place at one time. In some cases, "stubborn storefronts" seem to always be vacant. This is only the case in limited areas of the mall.
Here are just a few store changes and renevations in the decade 2000:
- Two vacant stores were combined to form Dynasty Asian Buffet
- Two vacant stores were combined to form Chuck E. Cheese's Arcade
- China Express vacates; becomes Hershey's Ice Cream; Vacates
- Tokyo Express vacates; becomes Seafood Restaurant; vacates; becomes Cafe Clearview; Vacates
- Alladin's Castle Arcade vacates in 2004
- Napoli Pizza vacates; becomes D'Vanzo's Pizza; Vacates; becomes Sbarro Pizza
- The Bistra Cafe vacates; becomes Subway in 2004
- King's Jewelry vacates in 2008; becomes Sprint Dealer in 2009
- Dean's Jewelry vacates around 2007; becomes Hickory Farms (seasonal)
- Gadzooks Clothing vacates in 2004; becomes RavenRock Workwear around 2007
- Homespun Country Store vacates around 2004; becomes C.J. Banks in 2004
- Foot Locker vacates in 2004; becomes Hot Topic around 2007
- Weingartner Florist vacates in 2004; becomes Clearview Florist; vacates
- Kay-Bee Toys vacates; becomes Kitchen Collection (now a permanent store)
- Fashion Bug vacates in 2009; DEB relocates to its location in 2009
- American Eagle Outfitters remodels in 2009, using half of the old DEB store
- Cheapskates Dollar Store vacates in 2008; Triple L N.F.L. Clothing opens in 2009
- Sprint opens in 2009
- Cheering Section vacates; becomes BonWorth; vacates; becomes The Common Thread (seasonal)
- Rue21 vacates (moves to Butler Crossing) in 2010
- In early 2010, Rue21, which opened in 2004, left the mall to locate at the strip mall Butler Crossing. It was the first, and likely, only store to move from the mall to Butler Crossing.
- Also, Michaels Crafts, which was previously located at Bon-Aire Plaza, (about a half mile from Clearview), moved to Butler Crossing. The main reasons were likely because it needed a remodel and had limited parking.
Dead ends
It may be said that there are a few "dead" areas of Clearview Mall. Thankfully, these areas have never taken over large areas of the mall. Around 2008, the mall hung signs that told shoppers what stores were located at the two ends of the mall. (Sears Court and [...]'s Court) These areas GeneRally do not receive as much traffic as the other parts of the mall.
Vacancies
Store vacancies over the years have generally remained steady. In 2003, there were 11 vacant stores. One year later, in 2004, there were 10 vacant stores. Currently, in 2010, there are about nine vacancies. There are 62 stores open in the mall, with 72 total stores. The percentage of open stores is 86%. The vacancy rates have not gone up recently, a sign that the mall is still in good condition. Gumberg's other malls, however, have much higher vacancy rates.
J.J. Gumberg Company
Owner of the mall since 1996, J.J. Gumberg Company continues to maintain it. When a "Ready to Lease Now" sign appears on a vacant storefront, there are a few things on it. There is the phone number to call for leasing information, as well as Gumberg's website, jjgumberg.com. This website has been under construction for a few years, and still does not exist as of 2010.
See also
- List of shopping malls in the United States