SEATTLE — Another major retailer is leaving downtown Seattle.
Store employees confirmed to KING 5 that the Lululemon store inside the Pacific Place shopping center will close on April 21. Many employees are transferring to other locations.
While the Pacific Place shopping center may seem quiet, it has nearly two dozen storefronts open inside.
While Lululemon plans to close soon, other business owners inside the shopping center told KING 5 they continue to see a steady amount of foot traffic and regular customers, keeping business going in the right direction.
When Pacific Place opened in 1998, it was busy, and 85% of the shopping center was full of retailers, including a movie theater and dining.
While the shopping center has seen many changes through renovations, ownerships, and storefronts, people have noticed vacancies inside Pacific Place.
"It was empty and quiet, too," said Diana Inzunza, visiting from Chicago with her friend Alejandra Franco.
"I'm a 90s baby, so when I think of a mall, I imagine people everywhere, lots of activity, and quiet. We thought we were in the wrong place," Franco said.
Across the country, experts have seen many urban shopping centers struggle, and most say the common factor is closing stores and less foot traffic.
Mark Cohen, the director of retail studies at Columbia Business School, said that every time a store closes, the appearance of vitality is diminished. Cohen went on to say that urban shopping centers struggle when there's not enough foot traffic or people living nearby.
Owners of Proto101 and The Handmade Showroom, other stores in the mall, say their businesses are growing.
The Downtown Business Association also has a positive perspective. It sent a statement to KING 5 that read, in part:
"Many of the revitalization metrics we're tracking are headed in the right direction, including returning visitors, workers and what is now a record downtown residential population. The face of retail continues to evolve post-pandemic and while every closure is disappointing, we are seeing new retail and restaurant openings. Today, downtown has more than 2,600 street-level storefronts."
The Seattle Office of Economic Development says it's seeing the same trends despite the "unfortunate" Lululemon closure.
"We’ve also seen downtown spaces reborn with new storefronts, including Uniqlo in the former Macy’s building, Hometeam in Pioneer Square, The Monkey Bridge, SIFF Cinema Downtown, and Ben Bridge Jewelry," Seattle's OED told KING 5.
According to OED, new legislation to convert existing buildings from commercial to residential and other uses and provide greater flexibility in the allowable uses of street-level commercial space will help revitalize downtown. There will also be more development along the Third Avenue Corridor, bringing in more foot traffic and making it easier for business owners in the area.
Pacific Place does have a number of restaurants and retail outlets open inside, and on Earth Day, they are hosting a family-friendly event inside.