The Main Street Pedestrian Mall in Riverside, California, United States, stretching along Main Street from 5th to 10th Street, was opened in 1966.^[1] The mall is flanked by the City Hall and convention center at either end. In 2008, the city carried out a $10 million renovation to the mall as part of the larger "Riverside Renaissance" project.^[2]

History

Before pedestrianization

Main Street was the main shopping street of Riverside for decades before it was pedestrianized in 1966. Major department stores included, at various times:^[3]

• Sears, opened in February 1929 at 5th and Main, moved in June 1938 to a larger 38,000-foot store in a new art deco building (architect Henry L. A. Jekel) at the southeast corner of 7th (Mission Inn) and Main, on the site of the former Rubidoux Building.^[4] It would further expand in the 1950s.
• Westbrook's (1935–1964)
• Grout's
• Montgomery Ward
• J. C. Penney
• Pic 'n Save (1930–1980)
• S. H. Kress dime store, east side of Main between 8th and 9th streets
• Reynold's, at 9th and Main
• Woolworth's, southeast corner of 9th and Main (1940–1957)