Cox's

Cox's Department Store was a beloved regional retailer that operated a branch in Monroeville Mall during the 1970s. Originally a major fixture of downtown McKeesport, the company expanded into several Pittsburgh-area malls before filing for bankruptcy in 1982.

History and Operations

• Expansion to Monroeville: Following the success of its modern flagship store in McKeesport (opened in 1955), Cox's expanded into suburban malls, including Monroeville Mall, during the 1970s.
• Store Offerings: The store was known for high-quality merchandise, including children's clothing, men's wear, and footwear. It also hosted unique community events like "Charm School" for local youth on Saturday mornings.
• Local Competitors: In the mall, Cox's competed with other major department stores of the era, such as Gimbels, Horne's, and JCPenney.

Closure and Legacy

• Bankruptcy: The company struggled during the economic recession of the early 1980s, which saw high unemployment in the Pittsburgh region. Cox's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 2, 1982.
• Final Days: By 1983, the suburban mall locations had closed, leaving only the original McKeesport flagship store operational for a short time before it also shut down.

Cox's was a department store in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With a four-story flagship store in the downtown business district of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Cox's had seven retail stores in shopping malls throughout the Pittsburgh area.[1]
History
Cox's was the successor to a small seamstress shop established in 1884 by Mary Ann Cox in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. By the 1950s, the operation had grown so much that Robert Cox, grandson of Mary Ann, purchased the White Opera house at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Walnut Street in the downtown business district of McKeesport and demolished it to build a flagship department store.[2] The modern four-story department store, built in the International Style, opened in 1955.[1] A large concrete medallion of William Shakespeare that had served as a centerpiece of the opera house was retained and displayed on the lower level of the department store.[3]
During the 1970s, there were seven additional locations in shopping malls throughout the Pittsburgh area. The flagship store was expanded. However, by the early 1980s, an economic recession in the Pittsburgh area had resulted in an unemployment rate of 22.8 percent.[2] On November 2, 1982, the company filed for bankruptcy.[2] After sitting vacant for over a decade, the flagship store in McKeesport was demolished in 1994.[1]
See also
List of defunct department stores of the United States
References
^ a b c Togyer, Jason. "Cox's, coming down". Retrieved 4 Aug 2013.
^ a b c "The death of a store". 27 Dec 1982. Retrieved 4 Aug 2013.
^ McKeesport Heritage Center Volunteers (2007). Images of America: McKeesport. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-4985-9.
1955 establishments in Pennsylvania
1983 disestablishments in Pennsylvania
Companies based in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Retail companies disestablished in 1983
Retail companies established in 1955
Defunct department stores based in Pittsburgh