Capital Mall
Capital Mall is a regional shopping center in Olympia, Washington, serving the South Puget Sound area.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Capital Mall is a regional shopping center located in Olympia, Washington. It opened on October 5, 1978, on land that had previously been owned by the Yauger family and sold in parcels for several civic, educational, recreational, and commercial uses. The mall was developed by The Hahn Company and became a major catalyst for commercial development on Olympia’s west side. Its construction was accompanied by surrounding retail projects, restaurants, and substantial public investment in road and traffic improvements because city planners expected the complex to significantly increase vehicle activity in the area. At opening, Capital Mall’s principal department-store anchors were The Bon Marche, JCPenney, and Frederick & Nelson. The center expanded its tenant mix in 1980 when Lamont’s opened a large store. Over time, the department-store landscape changed: Frederick & Nelson was sold to Mervyns in 1992, while later redevelopment replaced or subdivided former anchor spaces as national retail formats changed. A major roof fire in August 1991 caused more than $3 million in damage, but the property continued operating and was subsequently repositioned through ownership and physical improvements. Westfield America acquired the mall in 1998. Under Westfield ownership, the property was initially branded Westfield Shoppingtown Capital and later simplified to Westfield Capital. Westfield carried out a major expansion and renovation program, including a phase completed in 2002 that replaced the former Lamont’s space with a Best Buy and a food court. Mervyns closed its nearly 100,000-square-foot store at the end of 2006. Its former space was subsequently divided among multiple users, including Forever 21, REI, and Total Wine & More. These changes illustrate Capital Mall’s transition from a traditional department-store-centered mall toward a more diversified regional shopping and services destination. In 2013, a controlling interest in Capital Mall was transferred from Westfield to Starwood Retail Partners, an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, as part of a broader United States mall transaction. The property remained associated with Starwood ownership until 2020 and is now managed by Pacific Retail Capital Partners. The mall’s current anchor and major tenants include REI, Total Wine & More, Macy’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Best Buy, and Century Theatres, although tenant rosters can change over time. A Timberland Regional Library branch opened inside the mall in June 2021 as a pilot facility offering computers, book holds and returns, children’s services, and Wi-Fi. Capital Mall is also part of a broader planning area known as the Capital Mall Triangle. In 2024, the Olympia City Council approved plans allowing the mall and surrounding area to evolve into a denser, more walkable urban district. The approved framework permits certain buildings to reach up to 12 stories, or approximately 130 feet, and calls for improved crosswalks and bicycle connections as well as additional stormwater mitigation. The proposal reflects a long-term effort to integrate an established automobile-oriented shopping center with more connected mixed-use and urban development patterns. Capital Mall therefore functions not only as a retail destination but also as an important component of Olympia’s west-side commercial geography.
History
Capital Mall was developed on former Yauger family land in Olympia, Washington, by The Hahn Company. The property opened on October 5, 1978, with The Bon Marche, JCPenney, and Frederick & Nelson as its initial department-store anchors. The development helped accelerate commercial growth on Olympia’s west side and was accompanied by new nearby retail and restaurant construction. Anticipating a substantial increase in traffic, the city invested in road and transportation improvements connected with the mall’s opening. The center expanded its original department-store format in 1980 when Lamont’s opened a 55,000-square-foot store. The retail mix later changed following the sale of Frederick & Nelson to Mervyns in 1992. On August 18, 1991, a roof fire caused more than $3 million in damage. The mall was acquired by Westfield America in 1998 and was initially renamed Westfield Shoppingtown Capital, with the Shoppingtown designation removed in 2005. Westfield subsequently invested in a major expansion and renovation program. One phase of that program opened in 2002, replacing the former Lamont’s location with Best Buy and a food court. Mervyns closed its 99,924-square-foot store on December 31, 2006. The former Mervyns space was divided into smaller areas that later accommodated Forever 21, REI, and Total Wine & More. Forever 21 opened in August 2010 and closed permanently in September 2018; REI opened in May 2011, and Total Wine & More opened in July 2013. Dick’s Sporting Goods added another major tenant in October 2016. In October 2013, Westfield sold a controlling interest in several United States malls, including Capital Mall, to Starwood Retail Partners in a transaction valued at $1.6 billion for the portfolio. Starwood Capital Group retained ownership of the mall until 2020. The property is now managed by Pacific Retail Capital Partners. Its principal retail and entertainment anchors include REI, Total Wine & More, Macy’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Best Buy, and Century Theatres. The mall has also developed a community-service role. Timberland Regional Library opened a pilot branch there in June 2021 to test demand for library services in western Olympia. In 2024, Olympia approved a planning framework for the Capital Mall Triangle, the mall and surrounding area. The framework supports higher-density, more walkable development, allows selected buildings to reach 12 stories or approximately 130 feet, improves crosswalks and bicycle paths, and requires additional stormwater mitigation. This planning direction positions Capital Mall as part of a broader urban district rather than solely as a conventional suburban retail complex.
- 2024
Capital Mall Triangle plans approved
[1]Olympia approved a framework for higher-density, more walkable development in the mall’s surrounding area.
- 2021
Library branch opens
[1]Timberland Regional Library opened a pilot branch inside Capital Mall.
- 2016
Dick’s Sporting Goods opens
[1]Dick’s Sporting Goods opened a new store at the mall.
- 2013
Starwood transaction
[1]A controlling interest in Capital Mall moved from Westfield to Starwood Retail Partners as part of a broader mall portfolio transaction.
- 2006
Mervyns closes
[1]Mervyns closed its large Capital Mall store at the end of the year, creating space for later subdivision and reuse.
- 2002
Best Buy and food court redevelopment
[1]A redevelopment phase replaced the former Lamont’s store with Best Buy and a food court.
- 1998
Westfield acquisition
[1]Westfield America acquired the mall and began a substantial expansion and renovation program.
- 1991
Roof fire
[1]A roof fire caused more than $3 million in damage.
- 1980
Lamont’s opens
[1]Lamont’s opened a 55,000-square-foot store at the mall.
- 1978
Capital Mall opens
[1]The Hahn Company opened Capital Mall on October 5 with The Bon Marche, JCPenney, and Frederick & Nelson as the original department-store anchors.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center combining department stores, specialty retail, sporting goods, outdoor equipment, electronics, beverage retail, entertainment, and community services for Olympia and the surrounding South Puget Sound market.
Retail property · 1978
Regional shopping center
Capital Mall provides a broad multi-tenant retail environment serving Olympia and the surrounding South Puget Sound market. Its offer combines department stores, specialty retailers, sporting goods, outdoor equipment, consumer electronics, beverage retail, dining, entertainment, and community services. The property’s tenant mix has evolved from a traditional department-store configuration toward a more diversified destination designed to accommodate changing retail formats.
Services and entertainment · 2021
Community and entertainment services
In addition to shopping, Capital Mall supports entertainment and civic-oriented uses. Century Theatres provides cinema programming, while the Timberland Regional Library pilot branch introduced computers, children’s facilities, materials-hold services, returns, and Wi-Fi. These uses broaden the mall’s role as a destination beyond conventional retail.
Brand decisions
2024
Capital Mall Triangle urban-development frameworkStrategyBackground
Olympia sought to guide redevelopment of the mall and surrounding area toward a denser, more connected urban pattern.
Action taken
The city approved plans allowing selected buildings up to 12 stories or approximately 130 feet, while requiring improved crosswalks, bicycle paths, and additional stormwater mitigation.
Aftermath
The framework creates a basis for future higher-density and more walkable development around Capital Mall.
2013
Transfer of controlling interest to Starwood Retail PartnersM&ABackground
Westfield restructured its United States mall portfolio and sold controlling interests in several properties.
Action taken
Capital Mall was included in the portfolio transferred to Starwood Retail Partners.
Aftermath
Starwood Capital Group owned the mall until 2020, after which Pacific Retail Capital Partners became its manager.
Portfolio transaction value. $1.6 billion (2013)
2002
Redevelopment of the former Lamont’s spaceStrategyBackground
Westfield’s expansion and renovation program sought to update the mall’s tenant mix and physical layout.
Action taken
A former Lamont’s store area was replaced with a Best Buy location and a food court.
Aftermath
The redevelopment introduced large-format specialty retail and dining uses into the mall’s post-department-store configuration.
Recent events
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