What a year it has been. With 2021 coming to a close we wanted to recap with our Top 10 things that happened in Downtown Tacoma this year. 2021 was a year of firsts for the Downtown Tacoma Partnership and many of our downtown businesses and organizations. From our first summer concert series to first-time business owners opening downtown. We are excited for the foundation that was laid this year for what will surely be a prosperous 2022 in Downtown Tacoma. Check out our Top 10 below!
1: Sound Bites
In late summer the Downtown Tacoma Partnership partnered with Alma Mater, The Matador, NW Stage, Tacoma Night Market, and Puget Sound Family Health to create an outdoor summer concert series in Downtown Tacoma. For 5 Friday nights downtown, we had live music, vendors, outdoor dining, and a beer garden to invite our community out. Our first Sound Bites series was a huge success and we can’t wait to bring it back in 2022.
2: Construction begins on Old City Hall
If you have been downtown in the past few weeks you will see that construction on Old City Hall has begun. A few years back, the City of Tacoma put out a request for proposal and awarded the Old City Hall contract to SURGE Tacoma. Recently, the building fully changed hands to the developer and construction has begun on what will be a much-welcomed re-addition to Downtown Tacoma. We are so excited to see life brought back to our beloved Old City Hall.
3: Waterwall + Pierce Transit Plaza
A few years back, Pierce Transit set out to decide the future of Theatre Square in Downtown Tacoma. Theatre Square is the plaza next to Theatre on the Square and is most commonly used during the Tacoma Farmers Market season. Recently, construction on Theatre Square was completed. Included in that was a new mural titled “Little Tahoma” on the Pierce Transit Waterwall facing Commerce Street. Little Tahoma is a vibrant new mural paying homage to Mount Rainier (Tahoma). The mural brings to life a cement wall downtown. The mural really comes to life at night. We love seeing new activations in and on public spaces in Downtown Tacoma.
4: Tacoma Dome welcome back Guests
After being closed to the public for more than a year, The Tacoma Dome welcomed back guests in 2021 with Monster Jam in September. Monster Jam brought more than 25,000 people to the Tacoma Dome. The team at the Tacoma Doma and Tacoma Venues & Events raised the bar with new health and safety protocols to ensure the safety of event-goers. We are excited about the early 2022 lineup at the Tacoma Dome with Dierks Bentley and Justin Bieber playing in February.
5: Students Back at UWT + New Chancellor
2021 was a big year for the University of Washington Tacoma. The University welcomed a new chancellor, Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange. Chancellor Edwards Lange took the helm in September of 2021 and joins UWT from Seattle Central College. In November of this year, UWT welcomed back students and faculty with in-person learning. We have loved seeing our Huskies back in Downtown Tacoma.
6: New Openings and a few Reopenings.
2021 saw four new businesses join the ranks of our dynamic restaurant and retail scene in Downtown Tacoma. We are pleased to welcome Camp Colvos to the Brewery Blocks. Colvos, a native of Vashon Island brings beer, cider, and pizza to Downtown Tacoma. Standford’s a regional steak house opened a new location in the space that was formally occupied by Pacific Grill. McCallum & Sons bring a world-class liquor selection to A Street and finally Sunny’s opened a plant, home, and gift store on historic Antique Row. 2021 has also brought back a few of our local favorites. Little Radio reopened after an extended closure. Satori closed in 2020 and reemerged as Diamond Leah this year.
7:Downtown Development
We are so excited by the development that has happened and continues to happen in or around downtown. Currently, there are over 30 multi-family projects that have begun or are slated to begin in the New Year. With this development comes over 3,300 new dwelling units. One of the major highlights of the recent development projects is the historic Washington Building slated to be completed in the spring of 2022.
8: Spaceworks Star Bazzar
Spaceworks Tacoma, popular for their creative space activations struck again in 2021. The team at Spacworks hosted Star Bazzar, a makers pop-up event on the roof of Park Plaza North in August. The event showcased over 50+ Spaceworks Alumni vendors and including food and live performances. They had 500 people come to celebrate the important and impactful work that they and the businesses they support are doing in our community.
9:Haul Crawl + Nutcracker
In 2021, the Downtown Tacoma Partnership hosted the 6th Annual Holiday Haul Crawl. The event was created to shift holiday spending toward small independent businesses in Downtown Tacoma. While this year’s festivities were met with heavy rain and wind, we walked away inspired by the amount of support our community showed our businesses downtown during the Haul Crawl. We also saw the comeback of the Nutcracker performance at The Pantages Theatre bringing hundreds to Downtown Tacoma.
10: The Future of Downtown is Bright
Rounding out our Top 10 of 2021 list this year is the good and important work done this year in Downtown Tacoma overall. From our small businesses, property owners, the City of Tacoma, and beyond. A foundation was laid that promises a bright 2022 and an overall exciting future for our downtown and city as a whole. The future of our city promises new residential density, increased cultural vibrancy a Tacoma that feels home to all. (The photo above is from @kokograngephoto in Instagram)
Cheers to 2021, we will see you in the New Year!
