Monroeville leaders blindsided by decision to turn convention center into Hobby Lobby
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Monroeville's mayor, municipal manager and council members had no idea the Monroeville Convention Center is closing later this year.
Leaders said they strongly oppose the closure and are exploring all legal options to save it, calling it a devastating blow to the local tourism economy.
"Monroeville is a municipality, is very concerned and disappointed about the actions of Oxford to move forward to change the use of the convention center into a retail space and concerned for all the ancillary support services and businesses who depend upon hotel, restaurant activity from convention visitors," said Alex Graziani, Monroeville's municipal manager.
Graziani said Monroeville is in the dark about the situation.
"It wasn't until I heard last week from somebody who received one of those emails last Thursday morning. They told me that their event in November was canceled. That was the first time I got anything. As of this afternoon, the municipality doesn't have anything in writing from Oxford Development nor any potential occupant of the space."
On Tuesday, KDKA-TV learned Oxford Development only leased half the space to Hobby Lobby. Oxford Development did not answer questions about plans for the other half or how many jobs Hobby Lobby will bring to the area.
Graziani said this is not what Monroeville leaders want.
"We would have been working with our partners, the chamber of commerce here in Monroeville, the visitors bureau here in Monroeville and others, to think of ways to avoid an outcome that would lose our convention space," he said.
Engineers at the center on Monday said they were hired by an architect to inspect the space. The facility draws 400,000 people each year, and 74 different events were planned for 2024. Some of those are now forced to find a new spot.
At a council meeting on Tuesday night, Monroeville's mayor launched a campaign to save the convention center.
"I was taken aback. We were all surprised, very much so," Mayor Nick Gresock said. "From that point, we were trying to get information on how this all transpired. It has been very disappointing how this has gone."
Vendors said they are currently in limo.
"We want to be in Monroeville," said Brian Wissner, co-owner and operator of Pittsburgh Gaming Expo. "We like working with the Monroeville Convention Center. We like being in this community."
Gresock reiterated on Tuesday night that he never got anything in writing from Oxford Development, but he said he spoke with Oxford Development on Tuesday.
"We had a good conversation, but in my opinion, it was definitely a little too late," he said.
"I don't know what their reasoning is other than it's business," he added. "Not that it came from them, but that is all I can assume. I don't know what their motivations are."
Gresock said he reached out to Hobby Lobby to see if it would consider another location.
"I'm not certain Hobby Lobby understands the role that the convention center plays," Gresock said.
He said there is no reason it has to be Hobby Lobby or the Monroeville Convention Center. Gresock said Monroeville has room for both.
"We will explore any option there is," Gresock said. "We're trying to do the best for Monroeville."
KDKA-TV reached out to Oxford Development on Tuesday but did not hear back.