[1] Lakewood Mall itself had been a replacement for the outdoor Villa Plaza Shopping Center.
On May 3, 1958, former boxing heavyweight champions Joe Louis and Max Baer visited and signed autographs before being flown by helicopter to the B & I Circus Store in Tacoma.
[2] In 1985 developer Basil Vyzis acquired Villa Plaza and developed the enclosed Lakewood Mall which opened in 1989 on the site of the former Villa Plaza.
Throughout the short life of the mall it suffered from poor reputation, stores that were never occupied, and the closings of major anchor tenants.
In 2004, MBK sold two-thirds of its interest in the mall to Inland Western for $81.1 million.