Latest news with #TheJohnstownGalleria
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Megashow Home, Garden & Business Expo at The Johnstown Galleria
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Area businesses will showcase services at this one-stop shopping experience. The Megashow Home, Garden & Business Expo will be held during mall hours from Friday through Sunday on the lower floor of The Johnstown Galleria, 500 Galleria Drive, Richland Township. The event is sponsored by the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, the Cambria Regional Chamber, the Somerset County Builders Association and the Builders Association of Cambria County. Ron Aldom, executive director of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, said the expo is a platform to showcase businesses in a two-county region. 'It's a great way to highlight local businesses, and there's a plethora of every type of business with a focus on the home,' he said. 'We moved the expo in 2022 to The Johnstown Galleria and it works. It's grown every year.' On hand will be businesses, vendors and organizations, ranging from home contractors, equipment dealers, professional service providers, nonprofit groups and local retailers. 'Truthfully, there is something there for everyone,' Aldom said. 'We have a lot of repeat businesses who continue to come every year and that tells you it's a successful show for them.' Throughout the weekend, prize drawings and giveaways will be held, including a garden shed and a grand prize of a wheelbarrow filled with products donated from area businesses valued at an excess of $500. He said the expo attracts 2,500 to to 3,000 people over the three-day period. 'The numbers have been good and keep increasing every year,' Aldom said. 'Every year, it's attracting a new customer base. 'People are coming from not only Somerset and Cambria counties, but other counties as well, including some of the vendors who are outside the two-county region, so it's grown to be one of the largest events in the region.' He added that the megashow is a great opportunity for people to learn more about the products and services available to them. 'People might know of these businesses, but this puts you in front of them and you're able to talk to representatives and learn more about what they offer,' Aldom said. 'Even as a chamber executive, I get surprised sometimes on things I didn't know that a certain company had or does, so you're able to find that all out and get answers.' There is no fee to attend. For more information and vendor list, visit
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'I'm an optimist': Johnstown Galleria owner sees mall moving in right direction
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Leo Karruli has high hopes that 2025 could be the year The Johnstown Galleria reaches its full potential. 'I think it's making good progress and it's turning around,' the mall owner said. 'I'm an optimist and I believe 100% that the Galleria can come back and be full one day. I can see it happening.' Since acquiring the Richland Township mall in 2022, Karruli has been working to revitalize it. 'When I took over the Galleria, it was down and at 30% capacity, and right now I can say it's 70% and more, so I see the possibilities,' Karruli said. 'I bought it for $3 million and I could sell it tomorrow for $6 million and leave town, but I say no to that. I'm working hard to make this work because I don't want this beautiful mall to go bad.' He said it's been a slow process, but in 2024 he was able to add new stores to the mall, bringing it up to 40 occupied locations. 'It was a good year and I'm working to add more, and I think 2025 will be even better with new tenants looking to rent space,' Karruli said. 'I have a spin class moving in. I just signed a woman who makes soaps, candles and shampoos from scratch. I have another tattoo guy who just opened a shop, and a shop was opened where people can do crafts and paint. I'm also ready to sign a group that helps veterans.' He said it's not just retail that can take up residence in the mall, adding that he's renting space to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown for students to have a study area. 'It allows students to come over here after classes and spend more time and to have computers and access to the internet,' Karruli said. 'It gives them more flexibility to come to the mall.' A new restaurant, King's Flavor II, recently opened on the bottom floor and features American cuisine with its signature cheesesteaks. Karruli said Boscov's department store remains committed to the Johnstown market, with JCPenney, Maurice's clothing store, Shoe Dept. Encore, AT&T, T-Mobile and Claire's all signing new leases, along with Gardners Candies seeing increased business since returning back to the mall. 'This is very good and tells me great things are happening,' he said. Karruli said there are 10 empty storefronts in the mall. 'It takes time and you can't do everything overnight, but I'm working to make the mall full, and I'm hoping that in 2025 I see that happen,' he said. 'I have some more prospects and I'm just waiting on that.' Karruli said word of mouth on the availability at the mall has helped fill locations. 'Anybody who wants to open a store at the mall, I'm willing to give them a chance,' he said. 'I tell them to give it a try and if they want to leave, they can go. I give them freedom. It's not like I keep them stuck with a five-year lease.' 'It's for the people' In addition, the food court has been filled since Karruli acquired the mall. 'I told tenants to expand their hours and not close at 5 p.m. so people who are working can come out and eat,' he said. 'There's a bakery that opened last year and doing very well. There's Chinese, Italian and Spanish food along with barbecue, and everyone is happy and staying and making money.' Karruli said he's continuing to make improvements to the mall's infrastructure, having replaced air conditioning units and lighting as well as making repairs to the children's jungle gym and the fountain. 'Last year, I bought two AC units, and this year I'll buy another, so every year I'm trying to fix more,' he said. 'Every year, I have projects that will make the mall better so people will want to come and spend time here. Hopefully, that will attract the bigger stores.' Karruli also has placed a focus on the outside of the mall, paving entrance roads and parking lots that had been riddled with potholes. 'More paving work is to come this year,' Karruli said. 'Every year, I do a section, and I'm trying to finish it. I'm hoping to finish it within a couple years.' Karruli said there are exciting new prospects in the works coming this year that he'll be ready to announce once plans fall into place. 'As I've said from the beginning, this mall is not for me; it's for the people to have a place to come to and shop,' he said.
