• by Tanya Gazdik , October 13, 2025

Walmart has recently purchased two shopping centers in the Pittsburgh area.

The massive retailer purchased Monroeville Mall for $34 million and the Bethel Park Shopping Center for $39.6 million. 

The company's plans for the sites are still developing, though some tenants at Monroeville Mall have been told they will need to vacate by April 2027 so the property can be be torn down. 

“While Walmart hasn’t said much publicly about its plans for Monroeville Mall, it recently applied for $7.5 million in state aid for the project,” according to The New York Times. “The filing lays out Walmart’s plans to demolish the mall and replace it with a multiuse center, which is expected to be completed in 2029, and will add 780,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment space, as well as public and pedestrian areas.”

These acquisitions could signal a shift in Walmart's real-estate strategy, potentially leading to new mixed-use developments. 

“To several industry experts and analysts, the retailer made a smart move — the Monroeville Mall offers an attractive real estate parcel that’s already set up for retail use,” according to Retail Dive. “It also gives Walmart a measure of control on what businesses operate in the center.”

Mall expert Paco Underhill told PYMNTS earlier this year that malls are facing challenges ranging from vacancies, dwindling foot traffic and increased eCommerce competition.

“He believes there will be more mixed-use developments where malls function as hubs for various activities beyond shopping, including housing, offices, healthcare facilities and even government buildings,” according to PYMNTS.

Monroeville Mall has a storied history. It was where George Romero filmed the 1978 zombie-horror film “Dawn of the Dead.” But nostalgia will not save the building. 

“In the past year or so, a number of luxury retailers have paid hefty prices to acquire the buildings that house their stores in places such as New York City,” according to Costar. “They're looking to control their destiny and maintain a lock on prime locations on high-profile corridors, according to retail analysts.”