Kennewick’s nearly 60-year old shopping mall is getting a glow-up. 

Officials with the Simon Property Group, which owns Columbia Center, announced the renovation project Feb. 27 via social media, saying that it will give the mall a “fresh, modern look.” 

“Our goal is to enhance the shopping experience, and we believe this new chapter will elevate it to the next level,” the social media post stated. 

Work on the renovation began in November and will continue through most of 2025. It will be a complete redesign of the center, with a brighter and lighter color palette inside, new flooring and updated carpeting in seating areas. The small stage and fountain outside of Macy’s will be removed to create more open modern spaces. The cost of the renovation was not disclosed.

Interior painting is among the renovation work that has been completed, said Kelly Odland, the mall's director of marketing and business development. Workers are now starting to remove outdated accent pieces and the installation of new flooring will start sometime mid-year.

Columbia Center opened in 1969 and now boasts 125 stores, restaurants and other attractions. The last major renovation took place in the late 1990s and added the Barnes & Noble bookstore on the southeast corner as well as some other new store spaces and a movie theater that has since turned into a Dick’s Sporting Goods location. A separate storefront that is part of the mall has become home to HomeGoods and DSW Shoes. 

The mall will lose craft retailer Joann in the coming weeks as the chain goes out of business following its purchase at auction.