Westfield Southcenter
A major regional shopping center in Tukwila, Washington, and the largest shopping mall in Washington state.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Westfield Southcenter is a large regional shopping center in Tukwila, Washington, south of Seattle. It is commonly known as Southcenter Mall and operates under the Westfield brand of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. The property is positioned near the junction of Interstate 5 and Interstate 405, giving it a broad trade area across the Seattle metropolitan region and the wider Puget Sound. It is described in reference material as the largest shopping center in Washington state and the Pacific Northwest. The mall originated in the mid-1950s, when James Douglas, Wells McCurdy, and Rex Allison—figures associated with Seattle's Northgate Shopping Center and Allied Department Stores—formed Southcenter Corporation. Their objective was to develop a major shopping destination south of downtown Seattle that could replicate the success of Northgate. They selected land in the Andover Tract, an area being prepared for industrial development by the Port of Seattle. The site benefited from the planned construction of major freeways and was incorporated into Tukwila in 1957. Southcenter Corporation ultimately assembled approximately 160 acres for the project. Site excavation began in early 1967, followed by construction during the summer of that year. Seattle-based John Graham & Company, whose work included Northgate and Tacoma malls, designed the center. Labor strikes complicated the schedule, but the project was substantially complete by May 1968. The original center opened on July 31, 1968, with Washington Governor Daniel J. Evans participating in the ceremony. At opening, it contained approximately 1.4 million square feet, 92 stores, and an estimated 3,600 employees, making it one of the region's most significant retail developments. The property entered the Westfield portfolio in early 2002 and was renamed Westfield Southcenter. A major expansion began in 2006 after Westfield broke ground on a project valued at $240 million. The expansion added approximately 400,000 square feet and broadened the mall's tenant mix. Subsequent changes included the opening of Seafood City in the former Mervyn's location in 2010, The Container Store in the former Borders Books space in 2014, and an AMC cinema in 2008. The former Rainforest Cafe space was later replaced by Din Tai Fung, which opened in 2017. Ownership changed at the group level in 2017, when Unibail-Rodamco acquired Westfield Corporation and created Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. Westfield properties in North America and Europe continued operating under the Westfield name. Southcenter has also been the subject of plans for larger-format Lululemon and The North Face stores and a restaurant-focused area. Its current anchor lineup includes Macy's, formerly The Bon Marché, JCPenney, and Nordstrom, together with the AMC theater and a broad collection of specialty retailers, restaurants, and services. The mall also has vacant space associated with the former Sears and Forever 21 locations. Sears, once the final Sears store in Washington state, closed its Southcenter location on December 15, 2024.
History
Westfield Southcenter developed from a postwar regional-retail concept designed to serve the area south of Seattle. In early 1956, James Douglas, president of Northgate Company, his assistant Wells McCurdy, and Allied Department Stores executive Rex Allison created Southcenter Corporation. The new company sought a site of at least 100 acres for a shopping center that would complement the successful Northgate development and capture the growth of communities south of Seattle. The chosen property formed part of the Andover Tract, an approximately 800-acre area of former pasture being prepared by the Port of Seattle for industrial uses. The planned road network was central to the project's appeal. Southcenter Corporation acquired approximately 160 acres near the future convergence of Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. The surrounding area was annexed by Tukwila in November 1957, helping establish the municipal setting for the future mall. Excavation began in early 1967, and construction started during the summer. John Graham & Company, a Seattle architectural firm also associated with the original Northgate and Tacoma malls, designed the center. Four labor strikes affected the schedule, but most construction was complete by May 1968, with interior work continuing until shortly before opening. The project involved 25 principal contractors and 50 subcontractors. Its terrazzo flooring was a notable construction feature: the mall used approximately 85,000 square feet of terrazzo, with large quantities of cement, marble chips, and zinc divider strips. The grand opening took place on July 31, 1968, with Governor Daniel J. Evans as the principal speaker. The center opened with roughly 1.4 million square feet, 92 stores, and 3,600 employees. Its location at the intersection of two major freeways helped it function as a regional destination rather than merely a neighborhood shopping center. Westfield acquired the property in early 2002 and renamed it Westfield Southcenter, although Southcenter Mall remained a common informal name. On May 11, 2006, Westfield began work on a major expansion valued at approximately $240 million, adding about 400,000 square feet. The project reinforced the mall's role as a dominant regional retail and entertainment center. Tenant composition continued to evolve as department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and entertainment operators changed. An AMC theater opened in 2008. Seafood City occupied the former Mervyn's space in 2010, while The Container Store opened in the former Borders Books location in 2014. In 2015, the closure of Rainforest Cafe was announced; Din Tai Fung subsequently opened in that space in April 2017. At the corporate level, Westfield's North American and European mall assets moved into Westfield Corporation during a 2014 restructuring. Unibail-Rodamco acquired Westfield Corporation in December 2017, forming Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. The combined group continued to operate the property under the Westfield identity. Later plans called for larger stores for Lululemon and The North Face and a restaurant row, with openings discussed for 2023 and 2024. The mall's anchor landscape has also reflected broader retail-industry change. Macy's occupies the former Bon Marché role, while Nordstrom and JCPenney remain major anchors. A former Sears anchor became vacant when Sears closed on December 15, 2024; the store had opened in 1994 as a replacement for Sears's former Renton location and had previously been associated with a Frederick & Nelson site. A former Forever 21 junior-anchor space is also vacant. Despite these vacancies, Westfield Southcenter remains an active regional shopping center with department stores, specialty retail, dining, and cinema uses.
- 2024
Sears location closes
[1]The Southcenter Sears store closes on December 15 and becomes a vacant anchor space.
- 2017
Din Tai Fung opens
[1]Din Tai Fung opens in the former Rainforest Cafe space.
- 2017
Westfield joins Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
[1]Unibail-Rodamco's acquisition of Westfield Corporation creates the Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield group.
- 2008
AMC theater opens
[1]An AMC movie theater becomes part of the mall's entertainment offering.
- 2006
Major expansion breaks ground
[1]Westfield begins a $240 million expansion that adds approximately 400,000 square feet.
- 2002
Westfield acquires and renames the mall
[1]The property joins the Westfield portfolio and adopts the Westfield Southcenter name.
- 1994
Sears opens a replacement store
[1]The Sears anchor opens at Southcenter as a replacement for the retailer's former Renton location.
- 1968
Southcenter opens
[1]The mall opens on July 31 with approximately 1.4 million square feet, 92 stores, and 3,600 employees.
- 1967
Construction begins
[1]Excavation begins early in the year, with shopping-center construction starting during the summer.
- 1957
Tukwila annexes the surrounding development area
[1]The area containing the planned mall site is annexed by the city of Tukwila.
Products and positioning
A large, highway-accessible regional shopping and dining destination serving the Seattle metropolitan area and the wider Puget Sound, with department-store anchors, specialty retailers, restaurants, and entertainment.
Retail anchors
Department-store anchors
Westfield Southcenter's department-store offer includes Macy's, JCPenney, and Nordstrom. Macy's represents the continuation of the site's former Bon Marché department-store presence. These anchors provide apparel, accessories, cosmetics, home goods, and other broad-category merchandise that supports the mall's regional-destination role.
Shopping-center retail
Specialty retail
The center accommodates a broad specialty-retail mix spanning fashion, athletic apparel, beauty, home organization, electronics, and other consumer categories. Reference material specifically identifies The Container Store and planned larger-format stores for Lululemon and The North Face as examples of the mall's evolving tenant strategy.
Food and beverage
Dining
Restaurants and food operators form a substantial part of the Southcenter experience. Seafood City opened in a former department-store space, and Din Tai Fung replaced Rainforest Cafe in 2017. Plans for a restaurant row indicate an effort to strengthen dining as a destination component alongside conventional retail.
Entertainment · 2008
AMC movie theater
The AMC cinema, which opened at the mall in 2008, adds film exhibition and leisure programming to the retail center. Its presence supports Westfield Southcenter's positioning as a mixed shopping, dining, and entertainment destination rather than a purely transactional mall.
Brand decisions
2024
Close the Southcenter Sears anchorOtherBackground
The Sears location was the retailer's final store in Washington state and occupied a large anchor space at the mall.
Action taken
Sears closed the store on December 15, 2024.
Aftermath
The approximately 175,000-square-foot anchor became vacant, adding to the mall's available large-format space.
2017
Adopt the Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield ownership structureM&ABackground
Unibail-Rodamco acquired Westfield Corporation as part of a larger shopping-center consolidation.
Action taken
Westfield Southcenter became part of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield while continuing to operate under the Westfield brand.
Aftermath
The property was integrated into the combined group's North American and European Westfield portfolio.
2006
Proceed with a major expansionStrategyBackground
Westfield sought to increase the scale and regional appeal of Southcenter in a competitive metropolitan retail market.
Action taken
The company broke ground on an expansion valued at approximately $240 million and designed to add about 400,000 square feet.
Aftermath
The project expanded the mall's footprint and supported a broader mix of retail, dining, and entertainment uses.
Expansion investment. $240 million planned investment (2006)
Sources2 sources
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