Century III Mall did not go up for the planned sheriff’s sale on Monday, according to Kevin Kraus, chief deputy at the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office.
Moonbeam Capital Investments, which purchased the Century III in 2013 for $10.5 million, has avoided multiple sheriff's sales in the past year. The West Mifflin mall has struggled in recent years, and currently lists just 14 stores on its website.
The mall will remain in limbo as it waits for another order of sale from the court. Moonbeam Capital did not immediately return calls for comment.
Tim Hibbard, who works at the New Dimension Comics store in Century III, said things will continue on at the shop like they always have. “Our customers, especially the younger ones, are relieved when they hear the mall is staying open,” Hibbard said.
New Dimension Comics owner Todd McDevitt called the Century III location one of the best of the six stores in the chain. But he said Moonbeam Capital has often been sluggish when responding to his inquiries.
McDevitt said will move his West Mifflin location somewhere else if the mall does close down.
“It’s sad and unfortunate what’s going on with that mall,” McDevitt said. “I’m the only shining light they have, it seems.”
Century III Mall was once one of Pittsburgh’s premier shopping destinations. Now, it’s one of a number of spaces struggling with the decline in brick and mortar shopping.
It’s not yet clear when the judge will order Moonbeam Capital to auction the mall off.
