Efforts to save Monroeville Convention Center reach lieutenant governor's office
Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock said efforts to save the Monroeville Convention Center have reached all the way to the highest levels of state government.
Gresock said he was joined by Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, state Sens. Jay Costa and Jim Brewster, state Rep. Brandon Markosek, a representative from the Allegheny County executive’s office, and Monroeville and Visit Monroeville officials in a Feb. 21 meeting with members of Oxford Development Co. to discuss the possibility of keeping the Monroeville Convention Center in its current location.
Oxford officials told TribLive this month they plan to terminate the convention center’s lease June 1 to make way for arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby. Gresock said the move took Monroeville officials by surprise.
It also took show organizers by surprise and sent them scrambling to find new venues for summer expo shows like Steel City Con and the Pittsburgh Gaming Expo.
Gresock said Tuesday the group tried to make clear the economic impact the convention center has on the municipality.
“I believe they now understand how important the convention center is to Monroeville and the entire region,” he said.
Gresock said the group also hoped to meet with Hobby Lobby representatives Monday, but that meeting has been delayed.
Related:
• 'Are you sitting down?': Couple loses wedding reception venue after Monroeville DoubleTree closure
• DoubleTree by Hilton hotel next to Monroeville Convention Center to close
• Monroeville Convention Center will close this summer to make way for Hobby Lobby store
In a letter to Hobby Lobby, Gresock and representatives from tourism promoter Visit Monroeville stressed they would welcome a Hobby Lobby in town but not at the cost of losing the convention center. They offered to work with the company to find an alternative site.
“There are sites that would fit their square footage requirements,” Gresock said. “I’ve been contacted by property owners that are interested to speak with Hobby Lobby.”
Gresock did not elaborate on where those properties are.
Hobby Lobby officials have not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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