Retailer hhgregg Leases McKnight Road Space

Home appliance and consumer electronics retailer, hhgregg, is opening a new store in the space formerly occupied by Office Depot on McKnight Road, a company official confirmed Thursday.

Jeff Pearson, senior vice president of marketing, said the company signed the lease for the 25,000-square-foot space in Ross Towne Center and plans to open for business in early to mid-Spring. 

Renovations on the building, which will match the look of other hhgregg stores, are expected to begin in February, he said. 

"McKnight Road is a very good shopping area," he said, adding that the company has been pleased with the performance of its four other Pittsburgh-area stores, which opened last Spring in Cranberry, Robinson, Monroeville and West Mifflin. 

Ross Towne Center, which is situated across the street from the Ross Park Mall entrance, sees about 41,000 vehicles by its property each day, according to leasing information presented by Oxford Realty Services, the agent acting for the families who own the shopping center.

Oxford Realty has marked a "coming soon" tag for hhgregg on the brochure for the properties on its website.

Other retailers in the center include , , Ross Dress for Less, , and , among others. 

"We think it's a good place to locate," Pearson said.

The space, at 7737 McKnight Road,

Pearson said he expects the company will look for about 50 new hires for the store next year, including three managers, sales associates, customer service representatives and warehouse staff. 

Hiring typically begins about nine weeks before the store opening date, he said.  

hhgregg is a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, home appliances, computers, mobile products and related services operating under the name hhgregg and Fine Lines.

It operates 208 stores in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.