Where the Sidewalks Curve at University Village
The sidewalk under the roof near Crate & Barrel moves past glass storefronts and potted shrubs, curving so you don’t see the next shop until you’re almost there.
University Village was built on filled land south of Ravenna, initially opening as a mall in 1956 and continuing to evolve with the addition of new tenants.
QFC’s flagship store sits adjacent to the east side of University Village but operates independently from the mall itself.
People describe the place as walkable, clean, and already busy by noon. Cars line up along NE 49th, but the area behind the Apple Store is quieter.
Planters, tile crossings, and benches in the shade are spread through the walkways.
The part people remember isn’t the number of stores here. It’s the way light comes in through the open-air halls.
Origins and Early Development (1956-1990s)
The University Village site opened in 1956 on part of the former Montlake Landfill.
Before that, the land was part of Union Bay Marsh, which drained after Lake Washington was lowered by the ship canal between 1913 and 1916.
Some wetland was restored nearby, but the shopping center went up across NE 45th Street on filled ground.
Continental Inc., which had already built Westwood Village and Aurora Village, developed the project.
Ernst Hardware and Malmo Nursery were among the first tenants.
Village Lanes was near the northwest edge, starting as a roller rink and later becoming a bowling alley.
The buildings were low and basic, designed for easy access from the parking lot.
A&P had a grocery until QFC took over that spot.
Lamonts moved into a larger space later, and Gottschalks bought it in 2000. Pay ‘n Save was there for a time.
There was no indoor corridor, just doors, glass, concrete, and curb.
By the 1980s, fewer people were coming through. Some local chains didn’t last.
Most storefronts changed little over time. The slab from the old roller rink sat unused behind Village Lanes.
The dairy facility, which ran from 1955 to 1991, stood near what later became the expanded QFC.
On cold mornings, steam would rise from the loading dock and hang under the eaves.
Lifestyle Center Transition (1990s-2000s)
QFC chairman Stuart Sloan and developer Matt Griffin took over University Village in 1993.
They began replacing older shops and shifted the property toward a newer mall style with open-air walkways, larger retail spaces, and fewer small service businesses.
The old QFC, which had replaced A&P, was torn down, and a bigger store opened on the east side in 1996.
During these years, Barnes & Noble opened and became a familiar presence until closing at the end of 2011.
Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and The Gap moved in and stayed through much of this period.
Their stores were built with plain fronts and direct sidewalk entrances, without any shared indoor hallway.
The Village Lanes building was eventually demolished and replaced with new stores.
Planters and tree wells were added, parking was reorganized, and new paving marked changes in the lot and curbs.
Most of the older signs were taken down. From the 25th Avenue lot, you could still see parts of the old rooflines behind the newer storefronts.
User Experience and Walkability (2024)
In 2024, comments online described University Village as easy to walk in and generally comfortable for people on foot.
There’s no central indoor hallway, but some walkways are covered.
The look of the place reflects updates over time, with storefronts in different materials and styles.
Several visitors described the architecture as varied, though it doesn’t feel disorganized.
Sidewalks are wide, but they can get crowded, especially near popular shops.
Reviews from this period note a mix of chain stores and local businesses. Most visitors found the property clean and well-maintained.
Some mentioned hearing delivery trucks at the QFC loading area before midday.
Parking comes up as a problem more often than anything else. Many shoppers said the lots near Crate & Barrel and the Apple Store are usually full.
People reported circling several times to find a spot, and one post included a photo of cars waiting behind a stalled vehicle.
Getting in from NE 45th Street can be slow, especially on weekends. The upper parking deck by QFC often fills up even during the week.
Traffic flow near the medical center ramp is confusing; a straight arrow points forward, but the road itself turns left. There’s a scraped guardrail just beyond the bend.
Tenant Flux and Culinary Growth
The French Guys opened next to Evereve on June 16, 2025, taking over a spot that had been a tea shop until late 2024.
Outdoor tables sit near the entry, with a planter along the sidewalk in front.
This area of the center gets steady foot traffic from people moving between clothing stores and cafes.
Food options at University Village have changed more frequently than apparel or home goods.
Older cafes by the main walkway have been replaced by places with broader menus.
Din Tai Fung still attracts long lunch waits, and Shake Shack’s customers sometimes fill the main walkway.
A May 2025 photo shows a sandwich board in front of the shop beside Bluemercury, advertising cold brew and pastries.
Lines at Mr. West Café Bar sometimes stretch past the stools by the window.
There are also short-term dessert stalls near QFC, which change out often.
Most of the new food tenants offer fast service and not much seating.
The former Amazon Books location is being remodeled for a new DeLille Cellars restaurant and tasting room.
Construction was started in late 2024, with an opening planned for September 2025.
The space will feature a dining area, a wine tasting bar, retail shelves, and a private event area.
This will be DeLille’s first spot in Seattle, adding to their original site in Woodinville.
The 2025 Summer Concert Series at University Village began on July 16 and runs through August 20, with live performances every Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 pm.
The concerts take place in the Village Plaza near Room & Board and Joey Kitchen.
A beer garden hosted by Elemental Hard Cider is open during each event, with proceeds benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Infrastructure and Parking
Most traffic arrives through NE 45th Street or 25th Avenue NE.
Cars back up near the QFC entrance, where stop signs control both lot traffic and delivery trucks pulling into the bay.
Parking decks remain unchanged since their last expansion. The lower garage fills by midday on weekends.
The elevator on that same deck has received multiple complaints online, mostly for doors that stall mid-close.
The land underneath University Village includes part of the former Montlake Landfill, active between 1922 and 1966.
That history limits deeper excavation, though resurfacing and shallow construction continue.
An earlier push to daylight Ravenna Creek, which once ran through the property toward the Union Bay Natural Area, was blocked by mall ownership in 1991.
🌻