A True Gem of a Downtown: Well Done, Spokane

I am so very excited to be giving the keynote address today at the Downtown Spokane Partnership’s inaugural “State of Downtown” event in DOWNTOWN SPOKANE, a Downtown that, from a retail perspective, vastly outperforms its peer cities and even many larger ones, disproving so much of the received wisdom about Downtown retail today. For one thing, its undersized, locally-owned enclosed mall with paid structured parking, at the far western end of a metro area that one would characterize as a secondary market, nonetheless boasts the likes of Nordstrom, Apple, Anthropologie, Williams-Sonoma, North Face and others. Firmly established at the top of the regional retail hierarchy, River City Square has left the city’s original suburban rival, just 3 1/2 miles away, in the dust. Yet Downtown Spokane offers more than just a dominant upmarket mall: it also features multiple pockets of neo-hipster eclecticism spread across its treasure trove of turn-of-the-century buildings, including a host of fashion boutiques (several of which opened amidst the pandemic), an independent bookstore, an outpost of a famed live-music venue (New York City’s Knitting Factory) as well as numerous brewpubs and coffeehouses. And I haven’t even mentioned its serene Riverfront Park or the gondola ride over the (far less serene) Spokane Falls! Like everywhere, it has its struggles and challenges, but all in all, this is truly a gem of a Downtown, especially when placed within a larger national context. Well done, Spokane — what you’ve accomplished here is inspiring.