The Commons at Federal Way
The Commons at Federal Way (formerly SeaTac Mall) is a regional[1] shopping mall located in Federal Way, Washington, and is the only indoor shopping center in the city.[2] Steadfast Commercial Properties changed the mall's name to The Commons at Federal Way in November 2003 as part of a redevelopment program.[3][4] The previous name had been confusing due to the later incorporation of SeaTac as a separate city.[5]
Location | Federal Way, Washington, US |
---|---|
Coordinates | 47°18′48″N 122°18′31″W |
Address | 1928 S Commons Federal Way, Washington |
Opening date | August 14, 1975 |
Management | Charles Sullivan |
Owner | Merlone Geier Partners |
No. of stores and services | 62 |
No. of anchor tenants | 4 |
Total retail floor area | 781,791 sq ft (72,630.8 m2) |
No. of floors | 1 |
Parking | 3,664 |
Website | www |
Improvements to the shopping center in 2008 were expected to improve sales upon an expected $25 to $30 per square foot ($250–300/m2) by year's end.[6] Steadfast Companies later sold the mall to San Francisco-based Merlone Geier Partners for $46.5 million in March 2017.[7] Several stores and restaurants vacated the mall during the Great Recession and replaced with new tenants by 2010.[8] The mall has over 90 stores; its anchor stores include Dick's Sporting Goods, Daiso, Century Theatres, Kohl's, and Target.
The original developers were the California-based Newman Properties and Ernest Hahn; the mall's design incorporated elements of Pacific Northwest architecture, including wood finishes and Native American artwork. SeaTac Mall opened on August 14, 1975, with two of four planned anchor stores: Peoples and Elvins. A Lamont's and Sears were planned to open within the following year.[9] The mall's site was originally a forested, swampy pasture that was the homestead of Mabel Webb Alexander, who arrived in Washington in 1879 and died at age 96. For many years the original SeaTac Mall used a thunderbird in the logo and had a mascot, Thudius T. Thunderbird.
The first Cinnabon opened at SeaTac Mall in December 1985.[10][11] However, Cinnabon does not currently operate a location in the mall.
On January 4, 2018, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of a plan to close 103 stores nationwide. The store closed in April 2018.[12] The store was renovated and replaced with an Amazon Fresh grocery store that opened in 2022.[13]
On January 6, 2021, it was announced that Macy's would be closing in April 2021 as part of a plan to close 46 stores nationwide.[14]
Dick's Drive-In plans to open a fast food restaurant in the mall's west parking lot in July 2023.[15][16]
References
- "2006 Area Report Summaries: Commercial Reports: Major Retail Properties (Specialty Area 250)" (PDF). King County Department of Assessments. 2006. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2006.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "SeaTac Mall will get a new name". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. November 21, 2003. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- Tice, Carol (February 15, 2004). "Anchors away: Department stores lose role at malls". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- Tice, Carol (October 26, 2003). "SeaTac Mall prepares to announce its new name". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- Shearin, Randall (September 2007). "Timing Is Everything". Shopping Center Business. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
- "Merlone Geier Buys The Commons at Federal Way Mall for $46.5MM". The Registry. March 22, 2017.
- Howard, Jacinda (July 1, 2010). "New tenants fill empty spaces at Federal Way's Commons mall". Federal Way Mirror. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- "Sea-Tac Mall opens Thursday". The News Tribune. August 13, 1975. p. A13. Retrieved June 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Cinnabon History". Cinnabon.
- "Cinnabon closes store at Westfield Vancouver mall". The Columbian. January 16, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
- "Sears' latest round of closures is bad news for Federal Way store, other sites in state". The News Tribune. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- Rosenblatt, Lauren (January 14, 2022). "Amazon Fresh grocery store opening in a former Sears in Federal Way". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- "Macy's is closing dozens of stores this year. Here's the full list". CNBC. January 6, 2021.
- Clement, Bethany Jean (April 28, 2022). "Dick's Drive-in expands again — here's where the 9th location will be". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- Sullivan, Olivia (June 22, 2023). "Dick's Drive-in to open Federal Way location July 27". Federal Way Mirror. Retrieved June 22, 2023.