Retail, restaurant changes spring forth in region

April 30, 2022

Rick Shrum
Observer-Reporter

Changes are springing forth locally in the retail and restaurant industries.

A Bath & Body Works store will open in the Strabane Square shopping center, according to a sign in the window of a store where Dollar Tree had previously operated. That space is being renovated, with a summer launch likely.

Pittsburgh-based Echo Realty, which is handling leasing at the South Strabane Township location, could not be reached for comment.

Bath & Body Works also has stores in Washington Crown Center, Tanger Outlets Pittsburgh (South Strabane) and South Hills Village.

Change also has occurred at a Southpointe dining destination. A Mexican restaurant still sits at 325 Southpointe Blvd. – but it is a new business with a new lease-holder and new name.

Los Bajitos Mexican Restaurant & Grill, which sits at the intersection with Technology Drive, is part of a four-unit, multi-tenant retail building owned by Landmark Ltd. Partnership.

That strip-mall unit previously was home to Los Chiludos Fresh Mexican Grill, which had been a staple in the mixed-use park since 2010. In early March, however, owners Tera and Jose Lemus announced on Facebook they were moving Los Chiludos to Anna Maria Island, Fla. The couple are planning to open the Holmes Beach location in June.

“We will be about (half) the size of our Southpointe location and (be) more of a quick-serve versus full-service restaurant,” Tera said in an electronic message. She added that they sold their previous location “and some of the recipes.”

Orlando Crus, manager of Los Bajitos, said the renamed Cecil Township restaurant opened for business April 11. A number of former Los Chiludos employees are on staff.

“Everything has been good,” said Crus, who was an employee at Los Chiludos.

Los Bajitos is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.