Crews Demolishing Last Part Of Washington Mall

SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP (WPXI) —  After sitting abandoned for more than a decade, the Washington Mall is in its final days. Crews on Wednesday used an excavator to tear down what remained of the last portion, including the former JCPenney. Construction crews expect the structure to be fully down by the end of next week, about a month ahead of schedule, owner Vinnie Neiswonger said. Drone video over the property shows that most of the once-popular mall has already been reduced to rubble. The demolition will clear the way for a major retail redevelopment anchored by a Costco. Developers say part of the former grocery store structure will remain and be converted into an RV dealership. Two businesses on the property — China Buffet and Harbor Freight — are still under lease through the summer of 2026 and are tentatively expected to relocate on the site, according to local commissioners.