McKnight Road Corridor Building Boom In High Gear

ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- The building boom along the McKnight Road corridor is in high gear, even as a popular, long-time restaurant closes its doors for good.

After 17 years in the same corner of the old Northway Mall, the Fox and Hound English Pub & Grille is moving out. The restaurant closed its doors for good this past Sunday, leaving loyal customers sad.

"It's sad," said Shea Shapert, a former employee. "I've lived my whole life here and made a lot of friends here."

The move was a decision by the restaurant chain not to stick around for the transition to The Block Northway.

The departure of Fox and Hound will not leave the mall without restaurants. Developers are currently negotiating with two restaurants they hope to open in the plaza.

The former food court has been swept clean awaiting the players to be named later.

Meanwhile, the southern end of the former mall is in full demolition mode as tenants are finalizing deals.

"We are looking for a big box tenant for the old Dick's [Sporting Goods] space," said Harley Cohen, of LRC Development.

Other spaces are spoken for and in development, including and Ulta and a DSW shoe store.

On the front side of The Block Northway, the anchor tenants are quickly taking shape.

"Nordstrom Rack will open Sept. 1, and we're on track for that," says Cohen. "The Container Store, around Oct. 1, and Saks Off Fifth about that same time."

Cohen says he expects everything to be up and operating by the end of the year.

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They are on a similar schedule up the road at McCandless Crossing for the work next to LA Fitness.

"Texas Roadhouse is under construction; we're looking at an October 1 opening for them," said Robert McGurk, of Adventure Development.

On the other side of McKnight Road where most of the stores are already up and operating, they're now working on the third floor of what will be a six-floor Fairfield Inn.

"We're projected to open in late spring of next year," said McGurk, of the 109-room hotel.

By contrast, the rest of the buildings of the old Baierl Kia on McKnight Road across from Ross Park Mall came down on Wednesday. A First National Bank and Chik-Fil-A will soon rise on that lot.

The bottom line, everything under construction now, except the hotel, will be up and operating by the end of the year.