Bolstered by increasing guest traffic, 15 new retailers and restaurants will open this year, including three new concepts in the center’s emerging “Restaurant Row,” starting with Mr. Dim Sum this winter
SEATTLE–OCTOBER 9, 2023 – Fifteen new restaurants and retailers and a reimagined dining district are coming to Westfield Southcenter this year and into Q1 of 2024, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) announced today. New retailers include Cotopaxi, The North Face, Aldo, AK Jewelers, Eddie’s Jewelry, West Coast Boutique, the first JD Sports in the region, and Finish Line. Lululemon will also expand its footprint in the center, moving into a larger space, and MAC Cosmetics will debut a refreshed look.
New restaurants include fast food favorite Shake Shake, as well as Mr. Dim Sum and Gen Korean, which will be located in the redeveloped “Restaurant Row” on the north side of the property facing Tukwila Parkway and I-405. This new dining district will initially include three full-service restaurants with indoor/outdoor dining options. The first, Mr. Dim Sum, is an innovative Chinese dim sum house combining authentic favorites alongside bold, creative new dishes, debuting in Winter 2024. This opening will be followed by Gen Korean and another concept, to be named soon, in the New Year.
“New and expanded retailer relationships coupled with a focus on new food and beverage concepts are essential to our continued growth. This development provides an exciting opportunity to unlock the full potential of Westfield Southcenter and especially our north entrance, introducing a restaurant district that is completely fresh and flavorful for the community,” said Arta Barhamast, General Manager, Westfield Southcenter. “This tremendous retailer and restaurant growth underscores our commitment to maintaining the center’s position as Seattle’s destination for the best in fashion, dining and entertainment.”
This announcement comes alongside Westfield Southcenter’s successful sales increase, up nearly 10% year-over-year. Food, beverage and entertainment category sales are all up with double-digit increases year-to-date over last year. The center also welcomed more guests this year, up over 11% from last year and 3% from pre-COVID numbers.
The new “Restaurant Row” has been creatively crafted out of former store spaces and encompasses 12,000 square feet upon project completion, with a subsequent expansion to accommodate a fourth new restaurant. Each restaurant in the district will feature indoor and outdoor patio dining –– where landscaping, walking paths, backlit glazing, and tasteful lighting accents will create a welcoming courtyard environment for guests to enjoy.
“We applaud Westfield Southcenter’s commitment to providing its community with a premier shopping, entertainment and gathering destination,” said Tukwila Mayor Allan Ekberg. “As a vital space in our neighborhood, the addition of popular retailers and new dining district is a wonderful enhancement to the center, responding to interest and the center’s continued commitment to creating spaces to connect communities.”
Developed by long-time local restaurateurs, Mr. Dim Sum will debut its new concept at Westfield Southcenter. “The menu offers a modern touch on traditional Chinese cuisine, aspiring to expose the community to a true dim sum experience,” said Ben Liang, founder, Mr. Dim Sum. “With easy access and great amenities, Westfield Southcenter is the ideal place for us to reach a variety of diners who enjoy exploring worldly flavors.”
During the year ahead, all shops and restaurants will remain open for business throughout the transformation process. Westfield Southcenter will announce additional new restaurants and retailers coming to the center soon.
About Westfield Southcenter
Located at the junction of Seattle’s two most heavily traveled highways (I-5 and I-405) and just minutes from SeaTac International Airport, Westfield Southcenter is the largest shopping center in Washington State. The center features a premium blend of over 200 national and regional brands including Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, H&M and H&M Home, Bath and Body Works White Barn, Uniqlo, Aerie, Lululemon, Sephora, Apple, LUSH, LEGO, 16-screen AMC Theatres with IMAX, superb full-service restaurants – including the award-winning Taiwanese dumplings at Din Tai Fung – and a dining terrace featuring dramatic views of Mt. Rainier.
About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is an owner, developer and operator of sustainable, high-quality real estate assets in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States.
The Group operates 75 shopping centres in 12 countries, including 39 with the iconic Westfield brand. These centres attract over 900 million visits annually and provide a unique platform for retailers and brands to connect with consumers. URW also has a portfolio of high-quality offices, 10 convention and exhibition venues in Paris, and a €3 Bn development pipeline of mainly mixed-use assets. Currently, its €51 Bn portfolio is 87% in retail, 6% in offices, 5% in convention and exhibition venues, and 2% in services (as at June 30, 2023).
URW is a committed partner to major cities on urban regeneration projects, through both mixed-use development and the retrofitting of buildings to industry-leading sustainability standards. These commitments are enhanced by the Group’s Better Places 2030 agenda, which strives to make a positive environmental, social and economic impact on the cities and communities where URW operates.
URW’s stapled shares are listed on Euronext Paris (Ticker: URW), with a secondary listing in Australia through Chess Depositary Interests. The Group benefits from a BBB+ rating from Standard & Poor’s and from a Baa2 rating from Moody’s.
