Baret's Banter: No More Mattress Stores!!!

Everyone needs to eat, drink, and sleep. For most folks, save for those who enjoy lounging on air mattresses or couches, bedding is a necessity in life. It's also something we buy at some point and expect to last a long time.

Unless you're looking to upgrade your existing mattress, have recently purchased a new bed, or need to replace a well-worn mattress, chances are mattress shopping is about the last thing on your mind.

That is, until you drive down McKnight Road.

McKnight is lined with mattress stores, none of which are ever crowded. In fact, there are usually only one or two vehicles parked outside of each store at any time of day. These are likely employee cars. Given the low traffic flow, some of these employees may actually be able to lay down on one of the mattresses in their stores and take a nice rest until a random customer comes in to price-shop among the many options along the corridor.

In addition to the designated mattress stores, there's also Ross Park Mall, where mattresses are available at the stores selling furniture. A Levin Furniture store in Wexford looms large north of McKnight Road, offering a sale seemingly every weekend on the infrequently-purchased bedding item. Memorable ads also sway consumers looking to upgrade or replace their sleeping surfaces to head in the direction of the Highland Park Bridge to the Original Mattress Factory.

How do all these stores stay in business, and why is yet another mattress store being proposed for a space across the road from North Hills Village Mall? Perhaps most importantly, what could these spaces be better used for?

It's rare to see a mattress store leave. They tend to stick around for a long time, taking over buildings along the McKnight corridor. They somehow manage to co-exist with each other despite what appears to be a very low customer flow. (Keep in mind there is also a limited market for mattresses in general--in the 20 years I have owned my current bed, I've replaced the mattress only once; this is the norm for most people keeping the same bed for an extended period of time).

Opening another mattress store near Northway Mall was a move frowned upon by most residents. McKnight Road is known for having too little variety in many departments, especially restaurants. Although McCandless Crossing will be gaining a few exciting eateries, McKnight Road will still pale in comparison to just about any other area of Pittsburgh with a heavy commercial district--and, for that matter, similar districts in other cities.

Among the nationally-known tenants (excluding those found exclusively south of the Mason-Dixon line) which will still be missing along the massive McKnight Road corridor once McCandless Crossing opens: Red Robin, Smokey Bones, Cracker Barrel, Donato's, Burger King, Smoothie King, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Perkin's, On the Border, and Culver's. Some of these chains don't have a Pittsburgh presence, yet the presence of Ross Park Mall (which pulls in shoppers from the entire tri-state area with its upscale stores) could entice any of these restaurants to set up shop along McKnight Road.

Of course, they won't be able to. Good sites are blocked by mattress stores, and even if the site of such a store doesn't lend itself to a restaurant, it could potentially take away a spot for another business which would lease a property better suited to an eatery.

There's also the fact McKnight Road is filled with duplicates. The commercial district, roughly seven miles long from the city line to Wexford, has two McDonald's locations, a pair of Eat n Parks, and AT&T stores at both Ross Park Mall and the McKnight-Siebert intersection. There will soon be two Paneras as well, as a new location is planned for McCandless Crossing. Additionally, there are two BP stations, a couple of Targets, two Giant Eagles, and a pair of Walgreen's drug stores, although these are in distinct enough locations and are less of a concern. Putting ownership aside, McKnight also has the distinction of having a plaza housing side-by-side discount grocery stores and a vacant restaurant building formerly housed by Emilano's. The new owner, Giant Eagle, has no plans for the property and will likely let it sit, unoccupied, until it falls into condemnable condition (much like Chi-Chi's did years ago). An old Ford dealership and Sam's Club warehouse, among other buildings, sit unoccupied due to various factors.

It would make sense if the mattress stores were truly revolutionary. Unfortunately, the market for water beds dried up in the early 1990s and it seems doubtful residents would shop at a store specializing in designer air mattresses. Yet another store selling the same boring product we sleep on every night will make everyone continue to go elsewhere when looking for things to do or places to shop or dine, dealing a blow to the local economy in the process. (No matter how insignificant the impact of one space may seem, everything does add up in the end).

Adding another mattress store would hurt everyone. The existing bedding stores already have enough trouble competing against each other as well as furniture stores and department stores. Residents are tired of seeing the same type of business pop up when they desire more choices to eat besides another Panera or Eat n Park. Of course, new local businesses would also be nice, especially if they offer a product or service not found elsewhere on McKnight Road. (A good auto detailing business or a bookstore would be nice). Mattress stores, however, are not what this area needs. (Also unnecessary: big-box drug stores, more banks, or check cashing centers).

Please urge your commissioners to reject this proposal at the June 27 meeting. More details can be found at this story: http://northhills.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/mcknight-mattress-mecca-another-bedding-store-pro...