Jesselee’s Commentary:

I remember going to Blue Mountain Mall every weekend from 1991 to 1999. It was always a busy place and there was plenty to do. There was always a 'first stop' depending on where I entered with my family, but most of the time it's from the south entrance, where the TILT arcade was.

I would later on move away in 2002. In 2003 I returned and mentioned to a friend I was going to go check out Blue Mountain Mall again. She advised me not to go because there was nothing left. I figured she was just kidding so I went on my way. Sure enough when I got into the parking lot, it was unusualy empty. As I entered the building my heart sank. It was desolate and lonely. I sneezed and it echoed. I happened to catch a janitor there and asked him wha had happened over the years to the place, all he oculd tell me was rent and lease prices went up higher than most could afford, so people started pulling out. It was sad. I wanted to cry a bit because a place I had gone to during most of my childhood was now all but gone. I tried to reimagine the walkways and tables crowded with people and kids giggling again, but it just couldn't happen. I made my way to Shopko and just stood at the entrance to the store, looking back at what was once a great place to be.

Peter Erb’s Commentary:

The blue Mountain Mall continues its death spiral. Another tenant moved out this week. One recent plan involved CostCo but has apparently failed. Working in favor of the mall is the fact that this spring the north/south state highway here will be re-routed to run right by the mall. This should help with any plans to redevelop. The mall sits on about 45 acres of land and probably half of that is unused.

The CostCo plan was to remove all of the "mall" gallery leaving only the anchors. There would be some form of strip mall development and CostCo would occupy the southeast corner of the lot. The City of Walla Walla is horribly fee based in its permitting process which makes development difficult and they are very rigid when dealing with developers (so I hear) and deals fall through because the developers can get a better deal in the neighboring community of College Place which is literally right across the street.

This property has great potential but there are water issues since there are springs on the property whose impact must be mitigated in any engineering. As population grows there will be a suiter who will be able to accomplish much with this property the question is, when?

This property is well situated for a mixed use structure possibly 5-10 floors of high density residential sitting on retail and office space. Walla Walla is encouraging greater density and there is a lot of ground here very close to parks and soon to be right on a highway. This property, more than any other highway commercial property is relatively close to downtown and will not have parking problems. It is served by the municipal transit system and, excpet for Walla Walla's crumbling street system, is convenient to drive to form most places in the valley. The re-routing of Highway 125 will make it that much more convenient.