Renton Shopping Center

Submitted by Renton Then and Now

Renton Shopping Center was the city's first shopping mall. It was located on a 28-acre site near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Rainier Ave South. It opened in March 1960, years before I-5, I-405, or Southcenter mall were constructed.

The welcoming brochure listed several stores, the largest of which was Sears, which was located at the north end of the mall. At the south end of the mall was Market Basket, which was later replaced by QFC, and then again by JC Penney.

Another major store was Newberry's, which had a lunch counter where you could take a break from shopping and have a hot dog and soda. The mall boasted having 50 stores and services. This included everything from a grocery, shoe store, bank, ice cream shop, jewelry store, barber shop, cleaners, and, in later years, a party supply store and video arcade. There were several sculptures and a water fountain in the central mall area. The sculptures were made of concrete and designed to be played on by children.

Fred Meyer (@fredmeyerstores) purchased the property and built their superstore on the site in 1995. Before they demolished the building, they saved the fountain and sculptures and donated them to the city, and they can still be seen today.

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