Lakewood Towne Center — Attraction in Lakewood

"In 2001 Lakewood Mall was acquired from ATC Realty Sixteen Inc. (a Wells Fargo subsidiary) by MBK Northwest (a Mitsui subsidiary) for $28 million. [...] The enclosed portion of Lakewood Mall was demolished in 2001, leaving the anchor stores largely intact to make way for Lakewood Towne Center, which opened in 2002." (Wikipedia) Serving as retail power center, city services center, and transit hub, this sprawling complex is aptly named. For many, this is the central point from which Lakewood radiates. The transit hub is a collection point for a cross section of the population, while the movie theater draws a crowd from JBLM. Being the closest major shopping center to the base, you can expect to encounter many military and military-adjactent people shopping at the (primarily corporate) businesses. As can be expected from a suburban shopping complex, the layout prioritizes parking over pedestrians. Getting around on foot is a bit daunting. If you're unwilling to walk to one of the central sidewalks (which is inconvenient, to put it kindly), you're going to have to walk through a parking lot. Also as can be expected from a suburban shopping complex, walking through the parking lots can be a bit dangerous. There's something about the drab, pastel uniformity that defines the aesthetic of the place that seems welcoming in its way. When you're here, you can be anywhere. This looks like nowhere specific, so you could be in any power center in America. It's inviting in that it feels like that one place back home. You know the place. There's a nostalgia here. It feels like your first driver's license, heading out to meet Amy at the movies, or to go hang out at the Target, even though you don't have money to buy anything. It feels like that safe, close to home freedom you felt before you really knew what freedom was. Poorly designed, unrelentingly corporate, and propped up by military commerce, Lakewood nevertheless built its house here. This is home. This is Lakewood's living room, and flawed though it may be, it's...

My biggest problem is security. They let someone in with a airport size check bag and an full LARG back pack. She spent a ton of time in the bathroom (whick I left as quickly as possible. I left then went Back in to tell them to make sure they knew and the lady said she couldn't sell me a ticket because I had a half empty bottle of water and raisinets I brought in from outside(which I bought there for the movie I had just seen). After explaining this woman could have weapons/explosives in both her bag she still wasn't worried but when I said she could have water and raisinets then she was more concerned 😒 if I can't bring my gun in to protect me then they shouldn't​ let people bring in a stuffed military size back pack​ with an additional roller suitcase in either especially when they didn't even look in either bag to see what was in there because it would be a violation of her privacy....... Hello, what about a violation of our protection or right to...

There are a wide variety of businesses in this Towne Center making it convenient for shopping ,eating, or going to the theater or the theatre. There is a central public transit stop here, making it very convenient to get to. The Lakewood Playhouse is right next to the bus stop, and they have shows throughout the year. It is an intimate venue with wonderful Plays. Across the way is the AMC Lowe's theater, which is one of only 2 theaters that have what we call "the comfy seats", which are stuffed, over-sized, reclining seats (the other theater is at Point Ruston), and plays the current blockbuster films. The places to eat span your culinary palate, and the places to shop will satisfy your fashion desires. The Towne Center is spread out, and would be quite the walk to see it all, but there is ample free parking for all of...