Take a look around you-River Park Square might seem like just a modern shopping destination, but the plaza you’re standing in front of has a story as layered as a department store sale rack. Close your eyes for a second-imagine crisp spring air and a lively buzz of excitement back in 1974. Spokane is about to host Expo ’74, the city’s world’s fair. At this very spot, hundreds have gathered. The Governor himself, Daniel J. Evans, and Nordstrom executives are ready with the big scissors for the grand opening.
River Park Square opened up with a bang, its timing perfect to catch all those world’s fair visitors. But the fun wasn’t over after the ribbon was cut. Only four years later, the mall doubled down-adding a second floor and two skywalks, which made it feel like something out of a futuristic movie. People rushed across those skywalks between The Crescent, JCPenney, and Nordstrom-imagine the clatter of heels and the shuffle of shopping bags floating overhead as people chased deals. Then in 1984, another skywalk was added, this time connecting to The Bon Marché, adding even more shopping floor to explore.
Yet, like a mall-makeover reality show, not everything stayed glamorous. There were tough times: from Osco Drug’s closure-after decades serving downtown since 1942-to anchor stores like JCPenney packing up and moving to trendier locations. It was almost as if the mall’s stiletto had lost its sparkle. But this is Spokane, where people don’t give up easily. In the ‘90s, facing decline, the city and private owners decided to join forces. With $110 million in bold redevelopment, the center rose again in 1999-Nordstrom got a fancy new home, new retail space blossomed, and crowds of about 2,000 people flooded in at the ribbon cutting.
The shopping center didn’t stop evolving. In the 2010s, Urban Outfitters moved in, and the historic Macy’s across the street was transformed from a shuttered department store into luxury apartments with sleek new shops below. The dining area called “The Landing” opened for those wanting to snack while people watching, and tenants like Nike and Flatstick Pub set up shop. By 2023, LEGO opened their eastern Washington flagship here, to the delight of every brick-builder in town.
Now, River Park Square isn’t just where you go for Nordstrom, Apple, or Anthropologie. Its parking garage (sometimes the real hotspot on a holiday weekend) and proximity to Riverfront Park and delicious eateries keep this place alive and bustling, no matter what’s happening elsewhere.
So, as you stand here, picture yourself in the center of Spokane’s downtown story-a place that’s outsmarted the odds, changed with the times, and still rings with the sounds of shoppers, dreamers, and the next adventure.
