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]
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, 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]
^Shearin, Randall (September 2007). "Timing Is Everything". Shopping Center Business. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
