Blue Mountain Mall
Former shopping mall in Walla Walla, Washington, originally known as Blue Mountain Mall.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Blue Mountain Mall was a regional shopping center in Walla Walla, Washington, United States. It opened in 1989 and took its name from the nearby Blue Mountains. During its operating years, the mall served as the principal enclosed retail destination for Walla Walla and the surrounding area, combining department-store anchors with smaller inline shops and service businesses. The center's anchor history reflected the changing retail structure of the region. Shopko was an anchor during the mall's later years. Other major spaces had previously been occupied by Sears, Troutman's Emporium, and Gottschalks; the Troutman's location had opened in 1992 in a former Fred Meyer space, while the Gottschalks location had originally been associated with JCPenney. These changes show how the property evolved as national and regional department-store operators replaced one another. By the 2000s, Blue Mountain Mall was commonly characterized as a declining or “dead” mall. Many inline tenants had left, although three anchor locations were reportedly still operating as late as 2007. By 2017, Shopko and Carpet One were identified as the remaining occupants at the site. The property also encountered serious financial and ownership problems. Reference material states that it was bankrupt and closed by 2012 and that the property was sold on the courthouse steps on September 17 for $4 million in back taxes to OREO Corp. Reports in late 2013 indicated that a large mall-property development group had acquired the site and intended to renovate it for the 2014 holiday season. The original mall was ultimately demolished in 2017. A replacement shopping center later emerged on the property and reopened in 2018 under the name Walla Walla Town Center. Shopko was retained from the former mall, while newer tenants included Bed Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, Ross Dress for Less, and Ulta Beauty. Thus, Blue Mountain Mall is best understood as the former name and predecessor property of Walla Walla Town Center rather than as a currently operating shopping mall.
History
Blue Mountain Mall opened in 1989 in Walla Walla, Washington, taking its name from the Blue Mountains that surround the region. It was developed as an enclosed shopping mall and became the main organized retail destination for Walla Walla and nearby communities. Its tenant mix combined department-store anchors with smaller specialty stores, restaurants, and service businesses. The mall's anchor spaces changed over time. Shopko was an important later anchor. Sears occupied one of the major anchor locations, while Troutman's Emporium opened in 1992 in a space that had previously been occupied by Fred Meyer. Another major space was associated with Gottschalks, which had originally been occupied by JCPenney. The turnover among these operators reflected broader changes in American department-store retailing and the mall's dependence on large-format tenants. During the 2000s, the property entered a prolonged period of decline. Inline stores closed and the center acquired the characteristics of a “dead mall,” even though several anchor stores continued operating. Three anchors were still reported to be open as late as 2007. The deterioration continued into the following decade, and reference material describes the mall as bankrupt and closed by 2012. On September 17 of that year, the property was reportedly sold at a courthouse-step sale to OREO Corp for $4 million in back taxes. The property then became the subject of redevelopment speculation. In late 2013, reports circulated that a major mall-property development group had purchased the site and planned to renovate it, with a target connected to the 2014 holiday shopping season. The existing mall was not ultimately preserved as a long-term enclosed center. By 2017, only Shopko and Carpet One were identified as remaining at the location, and the original mall building was demolished. A replacement retail center opened on the site in 2018 as Walla Walla Town Center. Shopko was carried over from the former property, while the new tenant mix included Bed Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, Ross Dress for Less, and Ulta Beauty. The redevelopment marked a shift from an aging enclosed mall model to a newer shopping-center format. Blue Mountain Mall therefore represents the historical name and predecessor phase of the property, while Walla Walla Town Center is the successor development and canonical current article subject.
- 2018
Replacement center opens
[1]The property reopens as Walla Walla Town Center with Shopko retained and several new tenants added.
- 2017
Original mall is demolished
[1]The Blue Mountain Mall building is demolished to make way for the replacement shopping center.
- 2013
Redevelopment plans are reported
[1]Reports indicate that a large mall-property development group acquired the site and intended to renovate it.
- 2012
Bankruptcy, closure, and tax sale
[1]Reference material describes the mall as bankrupt and closed, followed by a September 17 courthouse-step sale for $4 million in back taxes to OREO Corp.
- 2007
Several anchors remain active
[1]Although the mall is in decline, three anchor locations are reported to remain in operation as late as this year.
- 2000
Mall enters a period of visible decline
[1]During the 2000s, many inline tenants leave and the property becomes associated with the declining-mall phenomenon.
- 1992
Troutman's Emporium enters an anchor space
[1]Troutman's Emporium opens in a former Fred Meyer location within the mall.
- 1989
Blue Mountain Mall opens
[1]The shopping mall opens in Walla Walla, Washington, and becomes a principal retail destination for the city and surrounding area.
Products and positioning
A formerly dominant local and regional enclosed shopping center that later declined, closed, and was replaced by the Walla Walla Town Center development.
Shopping center · 1989
Enclosed shopping mall
Blue Mountain Mall provided an enclosed retail environment serving Walla Walla and nearby communities. Its offer consisted of department-store anchors, specialty shops, service businesses, and consumer-oriented retail rather than a proprietary product line.
Department-store space · 1989
Anchor department stores
The mall's large anchor spaces were occupied at different times by operators including Shopko, Sears, Troutman's Emporium, Gottschalks, and originally JCPenney in one location. These stores supplied apparel, household goods, general merchandise, and other high-volume categories that supported the wider mall.
Home-improvement retail
Carpet One location
Carpet One was identified as one of the last businesses remaining at the property before redevelopment. Its presence represented the site's later shift away from a broad enclosed-mall tenant mix toward a smaller group of surviving retail and service occupants.
Brand decisions
2017
Original mall demolished for redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The former enclosed mall had experienced tenant losses, closure, and prolonged financial difficulties.
Action taken
The Blue Mountain Mall structure was demolished to enable construction of the successor shopping center.
Aftermath
The site reopened in 2018 as Walla Walla Town Center with a new tenant mix.
2012
Property transferred through a tax saleStrategyBackground
The mall was described as bankrupt and closed, with substantial unpaid property taxes.
Action taken
The property was sold at a courthouse-step sale on September 17 for $4 million in back taxes to OREO Corp.
Aftermath
The transfer preceded later redevelopment efforts and the eventual replacement of the original mall.
Tax-sale amount. $4 million (September 17, 2012)
Sources1 sources
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