RV dealer looking to locate to site of former Toys R Us
Jon Andreassi/Observer-ReporterThe former Toys R Us store at Washington Mall may be the future site of a recreational vehicle dealership.
The site of the former Toys R Us store at Washington Mall may get new life in the form of a dealership for recreational vehicles.
South Strabane Township officials will consider granting zoning and planning exceptions for the proposed dealership at hearings next month.
A group called 79/70 Associates was initially scheduled to appear Monday before the municipal planning commission and the zoning hearing board the following week but the hearings were postponed due to scheduling conflicts.
Kristin Hullihen, South Strabane’s director of planning and zoning, said the planned development would require a special exception from the zoning board, and approval for conditional use from the township planning commission.
The application also seeks to use the site of the former Giant Eagle, located on adjoining space, as an RV service center.
It was not immediately clear who owns 79/70 Associates. Washington County property records indicate the Toys R Us site is owned by a trust belonging to the family of mall developer Angelo Falconi, and the property is in care of trustee Anthony Marinelli. Marinelli did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Hullihen said the township has only communicated with Pittsburgh-based Lennon Smith, Souleret Engineering concerning the application. Calls to LSSE were not returned by Friday’s deadline.
Washington Mall opened with much fanfare in 1968, and was home to a wide variety of businesses small and large, including anchor J.C. Penney, before it eventually fell into disrepair and was shuttered in 2014. Today, it is home to just Harbor Freight and Grand China Buffet, both of which are accessible only through exterior entrances.
Mall annex Toys R Us closed its doors in 2018. Since then, the space has been used seasonally by Spirit Halloween.
According to Hullihen, the RV dealership and service center is the only proposal for new business at the mostly vacant mall.
The hearing before the planning commission is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 6, and the zoning hearing board meeting will be at 6 p.m. March 10.