Uptown Shopping Center

In the middle of a war-fueled boom, Richland needed more than reactors: it needed groceries, barbers, and a place to buy socks. The Uptown Shopping Center emerged to meet the everyday needs of workers and families in a government-built city.

A Modern Marketplace in a Wartime Town

Constructed in 1949 but designed during the Manhattan Project years, the Uptown Shopping Center replaced earlier temporary storefronts with a permanent, walkable commercial hub. Located near Alphabet House neighborhoods, it offered essential goods and services, all monitored by the federal government.

Though it opened just after WWII, its creation was a direct result of wartime planning and postwar transition. With clean mid-century lines, integrated parking, and block-long canopies, the Uptown was one of the earliest examples of modern suburban shopping in the Northwest.

Today, it’s still a vibrant retail and arts district, and one of the few WWII-era planned commercial zones that evolved along with the city that built it.

View Other WWII Heritage Regions in The Tri-Cities

World War II Heritage Sites Explore the Tri-Cities' World War II legacy as a designated American World War II Heritage City. Learn More
Building the Secret City A government-built community rose from the ground to support one of WWII's most secretive missions. Learn More
The Manhattan Project Machine The Hanford Site became one of the Manhattan Project's most important and secretive facilities during WWII. Learn More
Moving People & Materials Thousands of workers and critical supplies moved through the Tri-Cities every day to support the war… Learn More
Life on the Home Front Life in the Tri-Cities revolved around supporting one of WWII's most secretive missions. Learn More
Legacy & Interpretation Today The Tri-Cities' WWII story lives on through preservation, education, and reflection. Learn More