Broadway Plaza is throwing a street party Saturday, Oct. 17, to mark 75 years as Walnut Creek’s retail anchor and Contra Costa County’s first major shopping center.
The celebration, called “Once Upon A Street: Broadway Plaza Turns 75,” runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Broadway Plaza Street, according to Broadway Plaza’s official announcement.
The storybook-themed lineup includes a princess meet-and-greet by Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, performances by Beloved Little Circus, a ballerina photo opportunity from The Ballet School Performing Arts and music by DJ Rich Era.
Activities include flower-crown making while supplies last, face painting, balloon twisting and a 360-degree photo booth.
A Royal Parade starts at 12:30 p.m., and all guests are invited to join. Joybound People & Pets will be on-site with pet adoptions.
Visitors who sign the center’s “Royal Proclamation” receive a free mini tote bag while supplies last.
Broadway Plaza’s 75-year run
The property opened in 1951 as Broadway Shopping Center. According to the Walnut Creek Historical Society, it was the first major retail center in Contra Costa County, and its arrival helped spur local economic growth. The city’s taxable sales climbed from $9 million in 1950 to $20 million by 1955.
Brad Rovanpera, Walnut Creek’s former public information officer and author of “Walnut Creek: An Illustrated History,” described the impact in his book.
“In one broad stroke, the opening of the center changed the financial fortunes of the sleepy downtown that would one day be recognized as one of the top shopping districts in the nation,” Rovanpera wrote, as quoted in a June 2026 downtown profile republished by the city.
According to the same profile, the center was designed as an open-air mall resembling a traditional Main Street rather than an enclosed galleria.
The Historical Society also notes that Walnut Creek’s population more than quadrupled from 2,240 to 9,903 between 1950 and 1960, then quadrupled again to 39,844 by 1970. During those two decades, Walnut Creek was the fastest-growing community in California, according to the society.
Broadway Plaza says it houses more than 80 retailers and specialty shops, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Apple and Lululemon. Dining options include Original Joe’s, Cholita Linda, Boudin and True Food Kitchen, according to the center’s website.
The celebration takes place on Broadway Plaza Street. The shopping center’s address is 1275 Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek.
