This is an old video of when I had the opportunity to explore the interior of the old Washington Mall in the Pittsburgh satellite town of Washington, PA. Closed since 2014, the interior was gutted of most soft materials (drywall, ceiling tiles) to prevent excessive mold growth. The mall sits in pretty much the same condition today, with continued decay of the roof, more leaks, exterior paint peeling off (revealing some vivid colors used in the past), and nearly all interior lights burnt out. All exterior signs not actively used by businesses were removed in 2018. Even though the doors are boarded up, there are ground level windows which allow one to see part of the interior from a publicly accessible spot.

There are a few businesses still operating in the building, but all have their own exterior entrances. The former Toys R Us is now a warehouse for Gabe’s, Penn Commercial uses the old Giant Eagle parking lot for semi driver training, and on the other end of the mall, a Chinese restaurant and Harbor Freight Tools both operate. The Staples on the back side of the mall facing the highway closed on February 9, 2024 due to fire code violations. Their rear fire exit led into the mall, and since the hallway is boarded up from the outside and full of debris, it’s unusable. There are also occasional RV shows held in the rear parking lot next to Staples, directly behind the entrance in the last portion of this video.

It’s strange to think that Washington Mall operated longer than nearby Century III Mall. And yes, I had permission to film.