The Tri-Cities' first Nordstrom Rack opens November 5 in part of the old Burlington building. Dave & Buster's is coming to the space Sears left in 2019, which JoAnn filled and then lost. The first Burgerville in the region is taking over a Sonic Drive-In that has been closed since September 2022. Most of what's new this fall in the shopping district closest to West Highlands is happening in buildings you already know, and many of the new tenants are places to spend an afternoon or an evening rather than a quick errand.
That changes how the district works between now and the end of the year. Here is what's open, what opens in the next few weeks, and what's still behind a fence.
Same Buildings, New Tenants
The clearest way to see this fall's changes is address by address.
| Address | What was there | What's coming | Status this fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7411 W. Canal Dr. | Burlington | Nordstrom Rack | Opens Nov. 5 |
| Columbia Center mall, former Sears space | Sears, then JoAnn | Dave & Buster's | Construction expected to start in November; opening planned for August 2027 |
| 8600 W. Gage Blvd. | Sonic Drive-In | Burgerville | Under renovation; no opening date announced |
| 1220 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite J | Retail suite | Urban Air Adventure Park | Opened Oct. 10 |
The old Sears space has had the hardest run of the four. The Tri-City Herald reported that JoAnn spent $1.3 million building out the space in 2022 and closed in 2025, not long after its 2023 move into the mall. Removing that build-out is permitted at $125,000, and a separate permit issued in July covers nearly $1 million in work to return the space to "cold, dark shell" condition. Dave & Buster's plans to invest $8 million in the space.
The Mall Side Is Turning Into a Place to Stay Awhile
Dave & Buster's is the clearest example of what's happening across Columbia Center Boulevard. The Herald reported that the venue is designed for a maximum occupancy of 1,000 to 1,200 people, with a bar and restaurant on one side and an arcade on the other. It will employ about 130 people. Company officials told the city early in planning that the arcade will not include pool tables, laser tag or virtual reality games. The developer told city planners it expected to begin construction in November and open to the public in August 2027. Treat those as the developer's targets, not a confirmed schedule.
The mall is also filling smaller spaces. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reported in its October 13 issue that the British sportswear shop JD Sports and the relaunched Toys R Us have moved in. Both now appear on Columbia Center's store directory.
A short drive up the boulevard, Urban Air Adventure Park opened October 10 at 1220 N. Columbia Center Blvd. That makes it the first of this year's announced entertainment venues to actually open its doors. It's also the trampoline park the Journal of Business listed among the projects scattered around the mall area.
Canal Drive Gets Its Holiday Anchor Back
On the other side of the boulevard, the development near Columbia Center Boulevard and Canal Drive already had one new arrival this year. Habit Burger & Grill opened its second Tri-Cities location at 7415 W. Canal Drive on May 20. Now its neighbor is about to open.
Nordstrom Rack lists the Tri-Cities Center store at 7411 W. Canal Dr. with a November 5 opening. The Journal of Business reported that doors open at 9 a.m. and that a pre-opening shopping party, which requires registration, runs Tuesday, November 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. The store fills part of the building Burlington left. That puts a well-known discount retailer back on this stretch of Canal Drive in time for holiday shopping.
Burgerville, a little to the west on Gage Boulevard near Costco, is a bigger project than it looks from the street. The Tri-City Herald reported that building plans show a $650,000 conversion of the former Sonic. The plans include an indoor dining area and a hallway so the bathrooms can be reached from inside. The 65-year-old chain has not announced an opening date.
Plaza Way Shows the Same Pattern on a Smaller Scale
The pattern holds south of the mall area too. Pearl Desserts, which sells bingsu and boba, has opened at 3719 Plaza Way, according to the Journal of Business's October business updates.
A few doors down the street, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs selected 12 acres at 3811 Plaza Way in April for a future community-based outpatient clinic. Kennewick community planning director Anthony Muai told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that the city is reviewing initial building permits. He said the VA's builder, Ryan Companies US Inc., aims to have the foundation in the ground before winter, with construction continuing in the spring. "They're moving very quickly," Muai said.
Behind the Fences, Through Spring 2027
The projects still under construction mostly add rooms and gathering space for visitors. Over time, they'll also give locals more places to eat and meet up.
- Holiday Inn Express, 7715 W. Quinault Ave. The Tri-City Herald reported that this hotel across the street from Columbia Center mall will have 96 guest rooms. No completion date has been reported.
- AC Hotel by Marriott at Vista Field. The five-story, $38 million building from A-1 Hospitality will have a restaurant and rooftop bar on the top floor. A May 2026 release from the developer forecast an April 2027 opening, and the Journal of Business described it as nearing completion in October. The rooftop spot doesn't have a public name yet.
- Take 5 Oil Change, 151 Ely St. A 1,544-square-foot station is going up in the parking lot facing CVS Pharmacy and REI.
- Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd. The expansion adds 110,000 square feet. KAPP-KVEW reported that the work is on schedule for a December 4 opening, centered on a Great Hall of roughly 60,000 square feet. Its first event that day is Bikes for Tikes.
All this activity is why the city wants to widen Columbia Center Boulevard between Deschutes and Quinault avenues. The first phase, from Grandridge Boulevard to Quinault, is scheduled to begin construction in 2028, so this holiday season's traffic will move on the boulevard as it is today.
Halloween to the First Week of December, on One Calendar
Not everything on the calendar is in the mall area, but these dates fall closest to West Highlands between now and early December. Event details can change, so check with each organizer before you head out.
- Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m. to noon. The City of Kennewick's free Zombie Dash at Highlands Grange Park, 1600 S. Union St. Turner & Townsend Heery presents it in partnership with The Big Bro Joe Foundation, and preregistration is required.
- Tuesday, November 3, 4 to 8 p.m. Nordstrom Rack's pre-opening shopping party, registration required.
- Thursday, November 5, 9 a.m. Nordstrom Rack opens at 7411 W. Canal Dr.
- Saturday, November 14. Santa arrives at Columbia Center for the mall's Santa Photo Experience, with visits through December 24 and reservations offered online.
- Saturday, November 14. The Tri-Cities Wine Festival at Three Rivers Convention Center, with admission listed at $60 to $65 on Visit Tri-Cities.
- Friday, December 4. The expanded convention center opens with Bikes for Tikes.
Of the four reused buildings in the table above, two will be open by mid-November and two will still be under construction when Santa leaves the mall on Christmas Eve.
At Hart2Homes & The Hive, we follow new projects in Kennewick from the first permit to the day the doors open, and the changes around Columbia Center are part of what we tell clients about this side of town. If you'd like to know how these openings shape the streets around your own home, book a free consultation and we'll go through it with you.
