Main Street Pedestrian Mall (Riverside, California)

The Main Street Pedestrian Mall in Riverside, California, United States, stretching along Main Street from 5th to 10th Street, was opened in 1966. ^[1] The mall is flanked by the City Hall and convention center at either end. In 2008, the city carried out a $10 million renovation to the mall as part of the larger "Riverside Renaissance" project. ^[2]

History

Before pedestrianization

Main Street was the main shopping street of Riverside for decades before it was pedestrianized in 1966. Major department stores included, at various times: ^[3]

• Sears, opened in February 1929 at 5th and Main, moved in June 1938 to a larger 38,000-foot store in a new art deco building (architect Henry L. A. Jekel) at the southeast corner of 7th (Mission Inn) and Main, on the site of the former Rubidoux Building. ^[4] It would further expand in the 1950s.
• Westbrook's (1935–1964)
• Grout's
• Montgomery Ward
• J. C. Penney
• Pic 'n Save (1930–1980)
• S. H. Kress dime store, east side of Main between 8th and 9th streets
• Reynold's, at 9th and Main
• Woolworth's, southeast corner of 9th and Main (1940–1957)

References

1. Riverside, Glenn Edward Freeman, p.23
2. "Riverside pedestrian mall gets face-lift", Riverside Press-Enterprise, April 1, 2008
3. Freedman, Glenn Edward (2009). Riverside. pp. 19, 26, 28, 29. ISBN   9780738570792 . Retrieved March 21, 2020.
4. "Sears advertising section". Riverside Daily Press. June 1, 1938.

External links

• Photo Gallery
• Pedestrian mall articles on the "Raincross Square" blog

33°58′56″N117°22′26″W / 33.98222°N 117.37389°W / 33.98222; -117.37389