South Hill Mall Archives | Page 4 of 5

Puyallup to embrace becoming Seattle’s ‘bedroom community’ with new development downtown

Posted on July 15, 2019 | by Christopher Anthony

Puyallup to embrace becoming Seattle’s ‘bedroom community’ with new development downtown

July 15, 2019 10:35 AM, Updated July 15, 2019 11:41 AM

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New plans for downtown Puyallup prioritize apartments and condominiums near the Sounder Station for a 45-minute commute into Seattle.

The city hopes by focusing on multi-family affordable housing that more retail, coffee shops and businesses will follow. The bulk of planned development is less than a 10-minute walk to the train station.

“Becoming a bedroom community is not something we are shying away from,” acting city manager Steve Kirklie said recently.

A 500-stall parking garage for Sounder commuters is expected to draw more residents, and Puyallup needs housing to support the growth, Kirklie said. Downtown Puyallup’s population is expected to increase by 9,000 in 10 years.

For the past five years, downtown’s annual growth has been slower than the rest of Puyallup.

The Downtown Economic Development Plan targets residences as key to jump start investment. More apartments with shops and restaurants on the first floor would be ideal, said consultant Radhiya Nair.

Retail in South Hill is thriving, and plans call for a trolley to connect South Hill Mall to downtown. Plans also include restoring older buildings as apartments to keep rent prices down.

In the end, all the city can do is attract development and investment to the area, said Tom Utterback, director of development services.

To entice developers, the city is looking to lower permit costs, streamline the permitting process and offer tax exemptions for multi-family housing to spur apartment construction.

Many Pierce County cities are trying to avoid becoming simply a suburb of Seattle, including Tacoma. Ali Modarres, the director of University of Washington Tacoma’s Urban Studies, warned of the dangers of becoming a bedroom community.

“We need something that produces goods or products, generating an economy beyond services,” Modarres told The News Tribune earlier this month. “Real-estate taxes are not enough to keep up with the infrastructure costs over time.”

Asked about the possibility of Puyallup losing its small-town charm in the process of becoming a commuter town for Seattle, Councilwoman Robin Farris said the city’s been growing consistently for 10 years and a vibrant downtown ensures charm.

Councilman Jim Kastama is impressed with the downtown plans but worries there won’t be follow through.

“We’ve had not significant development for 10 years that we need,” he said.

Business owners like John Hopkins are worried the city can’t juggle development and parking.

“If we are not careful, we will ‘Proctorize’ Puyallup,” Hopkins said of the parking.

“I love Proctor, I think it’s a great, but I don’t go there because I can’t park anywhere,” said Hopkins, a former Puyallup mayor.

Keeping the sidewalks clean and graffiti-free were priorities for those visiting a July 8 community forum on downtown plans.

The proposal is expected to be voted on before the end of summer.

Cheers to 30 Years – South Hill Mall Marks a Milestone

Posted on May 20, 2019 | by Christopher Anthony

In the fall of 1988, the Puyallup area was treated to a new hub for shopping when South Hill Mall opened its doors. No longer was it necessary to make the trek to Tacoma to find department store favorites of the time, like Mervyn’s, Lamonts and Target, along with numerous smaller retailers and popular restaurants. Just a few years later, the second phase of the mall opened. In 2009 the entire mall underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation.

Today some of the names have changed, but South Hill Mall remains a community gathering place with more than 100 retail stores, restaurants, entertainment venues and other services. “South Hill Mall is a neighborhood shopping center and we want to make sure we’re serving the community well,” said Joe Bell, director of communications for Cafaro, the mall’s management company.

That philosophy guides which new businesses and services are brought in as tenants. An example, said Bell, is the mall’s newest restaurant, Golden Corral, slated to open in late summer. “We knew that there was demand for a buffet-style restaurant,” he said. “What we’ve seen on social media is unbelievable anticipation and excitement.” Serving the community also guides the mall’s special events, such as fashion shows, celebrity meet-and-greets, and educational programs for families.

Community members can even get their regular exercise at the mall before stores open, which is convenient when the weather is unpredictable. Last summer, Puyal-LOOP, an indoor fitness trail, was launched. By following green leaves marked on the floor, walkers can complete quarter-mile laps around the mall. They can also stop at 10 strength-training exercise stations along the way.

The evolution of South Hill Mall and commemoration of its 30th anniversary will be celebrated in October with two “Cheers to 30 Years” events. These will likely include store promotions, musical performances and highlights of community partnerships over the years. Visit southhillmall.com for more information.

Puyallup’s Golden Corral opened Wednesday. ‘You name it, we’ve got it,’ manager says

Posted on May 15, 2019 | by Christopher Anthony

By Debbie Cockrell

May 15, 2019 12:30 PM, Updated May 15, 2019 12:30 PM

Belly up to the buffet. A new Golden Corral opens in Puyallup

The Raleigh, N.C.-based restaurant company opened a new location at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup Wednesday, May 15, 2019. It’s the first mall location nationally and the opening drew a sizable crowd of fans.

The line kept growing Wednesday morning at South Hill Mall in Puyallup.

Inside, workers were setting out the final dishes for Golden Corral’s “endless buffet” for its grand opening. Some of the staff whipped out phones for last-minute quick group selfies and videos of the line forming outside before the breakfast-lunch rush began.

For staff and management, it had already been a full day, and it wasn’t even 10 a.m., the start time for its first day of operation as this area’s first Golden Corral.

D.J. Bauer, general manager for the restaurant, told The News Tribune he’d been up “since about 3 a.m.” in preparation for the opening.

“We are beyond excited to open up for the community,” Bauer said.

Asked about the day’s food selection, “You name it, we’ve got it,” he replied.

A Lakewood resident waiting outside said the opening meant “we don’t have to go to Marysville anymore.”

Days before, Golden Corral workers served food to some of the mall staff as practice runs. They even practiced singing “Happy Birthday” to a colleague, according to Justin Hunt, the mall property manager.

Hunt had been on scene since just after 7 a.m.

“I ate yesterday and the day before. I hit the salad bar up twice, the breakfast, brunch stuff — the waffles, french toast, eggs, corn beef hash, biscuits and gravy,” he said. “I sampled everything at the dessert bar to make sure it was safe. Pot roast yesterday, sliders, two different types of chicken; I hit everything.

“D.J.’s got the team to dial it in.”

As Hunt watched the line form, he was reminded of how long it had taken to get to this point.

“I’ve watched this go from being gutted to construction to the permit process to building to working with the general contractor and owner,” he said. “We’ve all been working diligently to get to today.”

Expect future new offerings at the mall, though no specifics yet, said Hunt.

“The mall you see today is not the mall you’ll see this time next year,” he said.

The front entrance of the new Golden Corral at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. It is the first mall location for the Raleigh-based company. Debbie Cockrell debbie.cockrell@thenewstribune.com

The exterior of the new Golden Corral at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup. Debbie Cockrell debbie.cockrell@thenewstribune.com

Fans queue up for the opening of the new Golden Corral at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

Debbie Cockrell debbie.cockrell@thenewstribune.com