The Main Street Pedestrian Mall in
Riverside, California, 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.