Costco coming to Washington County after mall demolition

A new Costco will soon rise in the footprint of the old Washington Mall, which is set to be demolished this spring, Washington County officials said.

The mall in Washington, Pa., has been closed for 11 years and the property has become an “eyesore,” Washington County Commissioner Electra Janis said Friday.

But that’s set to change with the Issaquah, Washington-based warehouse club chain, and possibly other businesses, expected to create “at least 300 jobs” and become an anchor for a redeveloped site, she said.

“It’s one of the first things you see when you enter the downtown Washington area and right now it’s an eyesore, so we’re very excited to bring traffic in from other counties, other areas,” Ms. Janis said. “We’re hoping to expand with more shops and restaurants.”

Most of the jobs at the incoming Costco are expected to pay in excess of $30 an hour, said Ms. Janis, adding that the retail giant has completed a feasibility study.

Commissioners are hopeful that Costco’s arrival is a sign of more good things to come.

“Everyone in the area is pumped up,” Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman told Post-Gazette news partner KDKA. “It speaks volumes of the economic success that we’re having here in Washington County.”

County commissioners announced plans to demolish the mall two weeks ago, with the county planning to contribute no more than $6 million to the effort, Ms. Janis said. American Rescue Plan Act funds will cover additional expenses.

The demolition aspect of the project is expected to be bid out early next week, officials said.

The redevelopment phase of the property will be funded entirely by American Rescue Plan Act dollars and contributions from businesses on site now that will be demolished and rebuilt under the same names and ownership as part of the project, Ms. Janis said. Those businesses include Harbor Freight and Grand China Buffet Sushi and Grill.

The existing Home Depot location will be renovated and expanded, but not demolished.

Plans for the site also include a new retail recreational vehicle store, Campers Inn. Commissioners said they continue to field calls from other businesses interested in the location.

“We’ve received a lot of phone calls about development, people that are extremely interested in exploring opportunities. So I do expect that area to completely explode and good things are going to happen there,” said Ms. Janis.

Commissioners did not know when the new Costco would open. A request sent Friday to Costco for information was not immediately returned.