Feb. 1—Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023:

3 Pittsburgh-area Bed Bath & Beyond stores closing

Three Pittsburgh-area Bed Bath & Beyond stores are set to close, further reducing the home goods retailer's footprint in the area, the retail chain announced this week.

Those stores are in Bethel Park and Monroeville and near The Mall at Robinson in Allegheny County. It was unclear when the doors would close and how many workers would be affected.

After the closings, two stores will remain locally — the Waterfront and Cranberry locations.

The struggling retailer expressed earlier this month concern about its future after dismal sales through the holiday shopping season, the Associated Press reported. The company, based in New Jersey, was examining ways to continue operations, such as refinancing its debt or restructuring in bankruptcy court.

At the time of the announcement, Bed Bath & Beyond expected to report net sales of $1.26 billion for the third quarter ending Nov. 26, which would be a 32% drop from a year earlier, the AP reported.

The company has been closing stores around the country for the last few years. Those closings have included the North Hills store in 2022 and The Waterworks location in early 2021.

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Mad Mex's Oakland location closing

The Oakland location of restaurant chain Mad Mex is closing after nearly 30 years, according to a message posted on social media. Operational and staffing challenges led to the decision for the Atwood Street location.

"We'll never forget the good times we've shared on Atwood over the past 30 years," the message stated. "We hope to continue to make great memories with you at our other Mad Mex locations throughout the city."

It was unclear how many employees would be affected.

The Oakland location was the chain's first, opening on Oct. 29, 1993. In a 2013 interview with the Trib, creator Tom Baron said he saw Pittsburgh's need for an eatery that featured a festive ambience and the best of the craft beers that were becoming popular in other cities at the time.

He wanted a Mexican menu, but authenticity was less important than serving healthful fare.

"In fact, we didn't want authentic if it meant cooking with lard," Baron recalled. "We wanted to do Mexican the way we like Mexican — more Cal-Mex — with relatively simple recipes and fresh, high-quality ingredients."

He and his partners found an Oakland storefront for the venture, decorated it with barn wood and exotic masks, and called the restaurant Mad Mex, a name inspired by Baron's then-toddler son Max in the midst of a temper tantrum.

Eight other Mad Mex restaurants around the Pittsburgh area are in operation. Restaurants and other businesses have been struggling with staffing levels since the coronavirus pandemic.

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Related

—Chef Bill Fuller discusses decision to close Oakland Mad Mex location

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Fire damages Ambridge home

A fire was reported on Church Street in Ambridge, Beaver County, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI.

The blaze was reported early Wednesday in a two-story home near the intersection with Laughlin Street and Old Economy Village.

Photos shared by the news outlet showed heavy flames behind the front door and a second-floor window. It was unclear if anyone was hurt.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta by email at rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .