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Bellevue Square (don't call it a mall) expands

June 17, 2012 @ 8:05 am (Updated: 8:11 am - 6/17/12 )

BellSquareIt's the mall I used to drive to on a rainy day when my daughter was a toddler. It had an oversized, colorful tugboat for children to play on. Climb to the top, jump off. Do it again.

It's the mall that little girl, who is now a teenager, drove me to yesterday for an afternoon of shopping. Open the wallet, swipe the credit card. Do it again.

The mall, the centerpiece of Eastside shopping, plans to expand. Oh, and don't call it a mall.

Kemper Freeman, Jr. has filed paperwork with Bellevue city planners to add 119,000 square feet of retail space to the shopping area that already has 1.3 million square feet.

The retail space would exist on the top floor of the west garage, according to the city documents. A project vicinity map shows the new structure over both the garage and Bell Square.

There's speculation about the stores that might be added - Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, maybe a Nordstrom Rack. Perhaps Neiman Marcus would move from its location at the Bravern which opened during the recession and recently sold.

I'd suggest adding a food court, although I realize Kemper would be as appalled by a common eating area as he is when we call his shopping center a mall.

Bell Square was the first mall in the area, opening in 1946 under the name "Bellevue Shopping Square." Northgate mall started in April of 1950. Three of the founders of Northgate then went on to start South Center, opening in 1968. We're supposed to call that mall in Tukwila "Westfield Southcenter, but no one does. The University Village area was first developed in 1956, but didn't become the upscale shopping center it is today until 1993. Alderwood Mall is much more recent starting in 1979, Kitsap Mall in 1985.

By LINDA THOMAS

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Comments (14)


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  • clevesside wrote...
    Well la di dah.....
    June 17, 2012 9:01 am
    ...and then some more, please. Spend that cash, if it's there. Build a Jr. Bravern on top of the proposed space maybe?! Um, sure.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    What they really need is a "Father/Male Daycare"
    June 17, 2012 10:42 am
    When dragged to a women's place of zen (anywhere they can SHOP". Yup, a nice place with hockey/football on the big screen, nice looking daycare attendants, a large bar with the appropriate beers, fussball/air hockey/pool tables........a place where "Man" can call his own.
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  • JMGilday wrote...
    Wonderful news
    June 17, 2012 2:00 pm
    a perfect example of people with vision and indomitable spirits refusing to let paper-pushing bureaucrats with agendas and pensions to protect get in their way. Well done Kemper and Co.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    JM said - paper-pushing bureaucrats with agendas and pensions
    June 17, 2012 2:06 pm
    quit trying to tie everything in the news as some kind of CEO anti worker movement, its old wrong and makes you look foolish.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shockmeee wrote...
    I agree with MNPAT
    June 17, 2012 2:06 pm
    I've been going to Bellevue Square since I was a kid and I used to be able to spend hours there. As the "mall" has become more upscale and elegant, it has become more female-oriented. Besides the Apple store and the men's department at Nordstrom, there is very little for me to get excited about, while my wife and daughter are in bliss for hours. Put in a sports bar or a video game room for the guys!
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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    thats my kicking ground as well.
    June 17, 2012 2:23 pm
    I hate shopping, but I like the square. What that mall needs is a food area like south center. Actually I have a really cool idea on that matter, billion dollar idea that would make it world famous regarding a completely new idea on food and malls. i wonder if they would listen?
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  • CH wrote...
    Its owebama's fault things are getting better . . . .
    June 17, 2012 2:24 pm
    in November we will put our 'boy' into the WH. Then we can get back to the wonder years of ???? what was that's fools name?
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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Yes and No
    June 17, 2012 2:42 pm
    The rich are getting richer and can afford to spend money on these investments in communities where more wealthy residents are living. This is not happening where people live further down the pyramid, under the top 1-5%. That mall is only two miles from where Bill Gates lives and the CEO of Wherehouser.
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  • clevesside wrote...
    Why not ...
    June 17, 2012 2:59 pm
    ...put Dicks Sporting Goods in there, just for us boys and without extending a well-manicured pinkie for approval?? Probably would end up in the corner of a parking lot somewhere, as current demographics go....
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  • otmilkr wrote...
    Why wouldn't they expand ?
    June 17, 2012 5:15 pm
    The trophy wives of the Corporate wealthy need more space to shop, with their purses full of cash stolen from blue collar workers. If the wealthy keep taking, the trophy wives will need armed guards and armoured vehicles to go there.
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  • rubegoldberg wrote...
    Haven't been to a decent mall
    June 17, 2012 7:43 pm
    in a while...Orange Julius, Squire Shop, Jay Jacobs still around? Dating myself there...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Regular Guy
    June 17, 2012 10:31 pm
    I used to work a second job in a retail auto parts store. One of my loyal do-it-yourself customers in jeans and a t-shirt was KF jr. I will never forget the expression on my parents face when they paid me a visit at work,and in walked Mr. Freeman with his used motor oil to be recycled,driving a old pick-up. say what you want,but he was just a regular guy.
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  • Hectic wrote...
    I hate malls (and Squares)
    June 18, 2012 5:47 am
    But I'm sure glad to see someone is building something somewhere. The construction industry needs all the work it can get. I suppose by the time this project is complete, and the new stores are open, the economy should be (hopefully) doing better, just as long as we can keep Mitt out of office.
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