On August 5th of 1975, Federal Way opened the first major shopping mall between Seattle and Tacoma known as Sea Tac Mall.
Federal Way had a shopping center constructed on Pacific Highway South and 312th, in the 1950's, known as Federal Shopping Way. Complete with rides, bowling, skating, and a dance hall (the area known as Federal Way Pavilion).
The original shopping center had an interesting history from it's ownership that is covered in the Federal Way Historical Society:
https://www.federalwayhistory.org/federal-shopping-way/
The owner of the Federal Shopping Way, J.R. Cisna, wasn't happy with the decision and fought to have construction stopped claiming the high voltage lines (for Tacoma Power) could be a safety concern.
Cisna also owned most of the real estate north of 320th to 312th (East of Highway 99 to Interstate 5) that would be a concern as the shopping mall developer would construct a shopping center across the street on 320th
Cisna's concerns weren't taken seriously and the mall was built on a Federal Way homestead on the corner of 320th and Pacific Highway.
The building boom of South King County
Federal Way wasn't incorporated and had no county offices in operation in the area. Many in the county council members were surprised that Federal Way was in their jurisdiction.
The mall and Weyerheauser would start a real estate boom in the community as other businesses were locating to the area.
At one time, it was regarded as the fastest growing area in the country during the mid to late 1970's.
The mall opens
On opening day, there were a few jewelry stores opened as well as People's and Elvin's. Lamont's would open a few weeks later.
By the end of the year, most of tenants (inside the mall) were open including Nordstrom's Place Two.
Sears would become a tenant in the mall in 1976, with their grand opening on April 1st.
The Bon Marche (Macy's) opened in the Fall of 1977 as the major tenant space was completed.
The original mall
The inside of the original could be difficult to photograph due to the dark wood grain interior, sodium lighting, and some unique fluorescent lighting fixtures that use a burnt orange, purple, and turquoise color scheme that followed the same pattern on the tile floor below them.
The mall was carpeted in all the public walkway areas. When the carpet needed to be replaced in the 1980's, The customer's voted for the next version.
You Tube has a few of the original commercials that were on the air in the 1980's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymvrSZhRJyg
During the first years of operation, career, education, and car shows occupied the mall area providing local business opportunities.
A world record was attempted for being on a teeter totter for the longest time. As a major device was operating in front of where Macy's would occupy.
The record attempt wasn't successful but like in the days of Cisna, the mall did have it's publicity gimmicks.
Some the malls history did follow the same pattern that Cisna experienced which would happen 15 years later.
The changeover
By the 1990's the mall was beginning to be forgotten by those that didn't live in the immediate area.
Puyallup would construct South Hill Mall in 1990 while Auburn constructed The Supermall, an outlet mall (replacing The Pavilion in Tukwila) that was designed not to clash with the nearby mall.
When Sea Tac became a city in 1990, this led to a major identity crisis. It was decided to come up with a new name.
The Commons of Federal Way
In 2001, a contest was opened to come up with a new name.
I wrote in the idea to use Federal Way Commons, based on the Kent Commons, the recognized as a public recreational center.
While my entry didn't get chosen, I did get the coffee cup with the new name, The Commons of Federal Way.
The interior would see outdoor lighting open up where the lighting fixture once stood.
Tile floor would replace the carpet and Century Cinemas would occupy the place where Lamont's stood while the space that AMC used as their first theater (in the Pacific Northwest) would become a Borders Book store.
The mall decline
The internet, The Great Recession, and COVID-19 didn't help the mall in keeping businesses open.
At one time, local government offices were using the mall, as well as other mall local businesses.
The extension to the Link Light Rail, into Federal Way, has changed things on the mall property as well.
The Fed Ex Store (that was located at nearby Gateway Center) would move to the mall as part of Gateway and The Commons would be used
to occupy the elevated track and Federal Way station.
This transit system should be operating in 2026
This video of the mall, taken in August, 2020, features Amazon Fresh (before it was opened) and Dick's Drive In was under construction.
Amazon Fresh closed in June of 2025.