Main Street Pedestrian Mall (Riverside, California) Explained

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)

External links

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

Notes and References

1. https://books.google.com/books?id=Oeora5S3bi0C&pg=PA23 Riverside, Glenn Edward Freeman, p.23
2. http://www.pe.com/local-news/reports/riverside-renaissance/riverside-renaissance-headlines/20080401-riverside-pedestrian-mall-gets-face-lift.ece "Riverside pedestrian mall gets face-lift", Riverside Press-Enterprise, April 1, 2008
3. Book: Freedman . Glenn Edward . Riverside . 2009 . 19, 26, 28, 29. 9780738570792 . March 21, 2020.
4. News: Sears advertising section . Riverside Daily Press . June 1, 1938.