Broadway Plaza Turns 75 This Month, and Downtown's New Places to Eat Opened Around It

"In one broad stroke, the opening of the center changed the financial fortunes of a sleepy downtown," retired city public information officer Brad Rovanpera wrote of Broadway Plaza in his book Walnut Creek: An Illustrated History. Patch quoted that line in 2011, when the Plaza turned 60.

The Plaza opened on October 11, 1951. That makes next Sunday its 75th birthday, and the official party, "Once Upon A Street," is set for Saturday, October 17. The pull Rovanpera described still shows up in the news. Since June, though, most of the Plaza's own news has been stores moving within it or listed as coming soon. Most of the new places to eat and drink opened a few blocks away on the older downtown streets.

What 1951 Actually Built

Broadway Plaza started with one retailer. Edith Apgar, who represented local developer Graeme McDonald, told Patch that J.C. Penney wanted a Walnut Creek store and the project grew into a full shopping center. The 38-store center went up on 30 acres southeast of Main Street and Mt. Diablo Boulevard. Its anchors were J.C. Penney, Sears and the San Francisco clothier Joseph Magnin, alongside a Lucky supermarket and a Woolworth. To build it, Walnut and San Ramon creeks were covered over. Apgar was superintendent of the project, one of the few women then overseeing a major construction job anywhere in the country.

It was open air from day one, with 1,500 parking spaces. Rovanpera called it "one of the earliest examples of a postwar automobile-oriented retail mall." One of the Marx Brothers provided entertainment at the opening. McDonald put in $3.5 million. In fiscal 1951-52, Walnut Creek collected $202,186 in sales tax, and nearly all of it came from Plaza stores. The town had about 2,400 residents just before construction. Twenty years later it had 40,000.

The Plaza that longtime residents know took shape over the next few decades:

• 1954: Capwell's department store opens.
• 1975: Bullock's takes over the former Lucky supermarket space, which is now Nordstrom. A year later President Gerald Ford, campaigning for re-election, speaks to crowds there and dedicates the bell in Liberty Plaza across Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
• 1985: Macerich takes ownership.
• 2015–2016: Macerich announces a redevelopment adding 315,000 square feet, with Macy's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus as anchors. When the redesign opened to the public in September 2016, the center reported more than 50 new stores.

The redesign expanded a center that was already open air. Nothing was ever enclosed and then opened back up.

Inside the Plaza in 2026: Moves and Coming Soon Signs

The Plaza's changes this year have mostly been about where stores sit within it. By early June, gorjana had moved to a new spot near the fountain. The North Face announced a fall move into the former White House Black Market space. As of a September 2 report, the new unit at 78 Broadway Lane was still listed as "Coming Soon" with no date.

Two stores have opened since summer. Läderach, the family-owned Swiss chocolate retailer, was open by mid-August, and the modular furniture showroom 7th Avenue was open a few days later. New Balance's store locator also lists a store at 1259 Broadway Plaza, though we could not find its opening date.

Several more are announced but not yet open as of early October:

• Sur La Table, 1205 Broadway Plaza. The retailer lists the store as "Opening Late Fall," four years after its previous Broadway Plaza store closed. Patch reported September 28 that the store page still showed every day's hours as closed.
• Rowan, 146 Broadway Lane. The ear-piercing and jewelry shop is replacing Aveda, with no opening date announced as of late August.
• American Eagle Outfitters. The Plaza directory lists it as "Coming Soon" with no date.

Across the street at Broadway Pointe, The BOBA Lounge was open by late September. It is the latest in a series of boba cafés at that site.

Outside the Plaza: Where the Kitchens Opened

The food openings we tracked from June through September are almost all on the street grid north and west of the Plaza. Locust Street and North Main account for most of them.

Retail news followed the same streets. VICI, the Walnut Creek-headquartered fashion brand, announced a 2,200-square-foot store at 1366 N. Main St., set to open September 10 with a grand opening on September 12. On Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Saatva had opened in the former Sleep Number space at 1619 Mt. Diablo by mid-September.

More is announced for the same streets. Salt & Lime was announced September 25 for 1521 N. Main St., the former Oyama Sushi space. Its website still shows "Coming Soon" with no date. Gelateria Bacio di Latte was expected to open in September at 1500 Mt. Diablo Blvd., the former Vineyard Vines space. That month has passed, and we have not found anything confirming it opened. Massés Sports Bar & Grill announced in April that it would move from 2721 N. Main St. to 1411 Locust St. Owners Eric Paden and Milisa Barrett said at the time that work remained, and no reopening date has been announced.

What Downtown Lost This Season

The hardest news this season came from Locust Street. On August 19, a fire badly damaged Lettuce Restaurant & Catering at 1632 Locust St. No one was hurt. Lettuce has served sandwiches, pasta, soups and salads to a downtown lunch crowd since 2009. It is closed indefinitely, and no reopening date has been announced.

A few blocks north, the furniture retailer Yardbird at 1406 N. Broadway was reported closed in late August. It had opened there in 2023. One planned project also dropped off the map. According to the city, the application for a 30,500-square-foot Restoration Hardware commercial building and restaurant at 1000 S. Main St. and 1401 Mt. Diablo Blvd. was withdrawn on June 1, 2026.

The Calendar From Here to January

The birthday weekends start the fall calendar, and the Plaza and the city each hold their own holiday kickoff.

1. Sunday, October 11, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The HEAD WEST Marketplace sets up on North Main Street on the Plaza's actual 75th birthday.
2. Saturday, October 17, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. "Once Upon A Street" fills Broadway Plaza Street. The lineup includes a princess meet-and-greet with Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, a ballerina photo with The Ballet School Performing Arts, Beloved Little Circus, DJ Rich Era, and pet adoptions with Joybound People & Pets. A Royal Parade starts at 12:30 p.m., and guests who sign the Royal Proclamation get a free mini tote while supplies last.
3. Friday, October 23, 3–6 p.m. Trunk or Treat Walnut Creek at Civic Park.
4. Saturday, October 24, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. A Makers Market at Broadway Plaza. More are scheduled for November 28 and December 19.
5. Friday, November 20, 5:30–6:30 p.m. The city's free Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Civic Park, 1375 Civic Drive. Walnut Creek on Ice opens at Civic Park the same day and runs through January 18, 2027, with outdoor skating and an ice slide.
6. Thursday, December 3, 6–8:30 p.m. Broadway Plaza's own Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting, held throughout the Plaza.
7. Sunday, December 13, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. HEAD WEST returns to North Main.

That gives downtown two tree lightings 13 days apart. The city lights its tree at Civic Park on November 20, and the Plaza lights its own on December 3. Between the two, Sur La Table's "late fall" opening window and the North Face move may finally get dates. The Plaza's last Makers Market of the year is December 19, and the Civic Park rink stays open into mid-January.

We keep a running list of downtown openings and closings because they're part of how we read Walnut Creek for our clients. If you'd like to know how a 75-year-old shopping district and its surrounding blocks affect the value of a home nearby, Amir Aliloupour and Cherry Wade are happy to walk through it with you. Sign up for early access, and we'll send local updates like these along with new listings.