Living in a small town like Pullman comes with its charms, such as the endless rolling hills and Cougar pride, but it also has a major downside: the limited shopping, dining and entertainment options in town. After a while, the same handful of restaurants can start to feel limiting, especially for those who live in Pullman year-round. 

For students without a car, or residents who do not want to spend their whole day driving to Spokane or Lewiston, the lack of options at times feels frustrating. It’s easy to love Pullman, but it is hard to ignore the fact that you can’t buy a full professional outfit or catch a movie without crossing state lines.

While I may have no experience with government or public policy, as a Pullman resident for eight months out of the year, I have thought long and hard about what will thrive in this town. If I were in charge of shaping Pullman’s future, whether as the mayor or a city councilmember, or a genie could grant me three wishes, I know what businesses I would bring into town. Here’s what I would add to the map.

Costco:

I would place this Costco on the outskirts of Pullman, on the Pullman-Moscow Highway. Not only will students benefit from a Costco down the street, but families and residents of the region will benefit too. It is hard when the nearest Costco is in Lewiston and Spokane because the bulk frozen chicken bakes you bought have already melted by the time you get back to Pullman. The community would value a bulk grocery store and I know everyone would be happy to go to the Costco food court. 

Five Guys:

I have a bone to pick with the city of Pullman, and that is the lack of good burger options. This will be the easiest one to get implemented in Pullman because it is a franchise. The nearest Five Guys is not even in Moscow; it’s in Spokane. A Five Guys would be successful anywhere in the Palouse, but I would place this Five Guys on College Hill, specifically in the empty space next to Jimmy John’s and Domino’s. Placing it in the heart of Greek Row will maximize profits and it is a great job for students to work at. 

T.J. Maxx:

Nobody loves a deal more than college students. Pullman needs access to a department store. T.J. Maxx already has a building it can go into, the old Pullman Building Supply. Placed next to Walmart, Chipotle and Starbucks, it will be in the prime spot to grab lunch and a coffee, impulse shop at T.J. Maxx and then end your day by grabbing groceries at Walmart. It is perfect. It is hard to have options for clothes and shoes when the only places you can go are Walmart or a thrift store. You could travel to Moscow’s mall, but what about the people who do not have a car, or who do not want to drive 20 minutes to the nearest clothing store? T.J. Maxx would fill the gap perfectly, bringing variety, affordability and convenience into town – something this town needs. 

Trader Joe’s:

Its portion sizes are perfect for students and affordable for them too. Trader Joe’s has a way of creating a fun, engaging shopping experience and I can already picture the Cougar decorations near the registers, tying the store into Pullman’s identity. The location matters just as much as the store itself. While proximity to campus would be ideal, Trader Joe’s notoriously small parking lots make that difficult. That is why I would put a Trader Joe’s in the Wheatland Shopping Center, in the space formerly occupied by Rite Aid, near Planet Fitness. Not only will the economics of Pullman improve with a Trader Joe’s, but businesses nearby like South Fork, Pets are People too and Hollywood Nails would gain more customers. 

Red Robin:

A Red Robin is exactly what downtown is missing: a familiar favorite with a wide variety of food on its menu. While the old Mimosa building downtown has been flooded and gutted, this space has a lot of potential and a Pullman Red Robin would breathe more life into it. This business will be perfect for residents, visitors passing through and post-game celebrations. It has a reasonably sized parking lot and it is within walking distance of campus. Perfect for socializing with friends or grabbing a bite mid-study session. 

While we are on the topic, Pullman needs to utilize the empty spaces in the town with businesses that are undoubtedly going to prosper. The Arby’s is empty, I would put a drive-thru smoothie place like Jamba Juice or Tropical Smoothie. There are dozens of coffee and caffeine quick stops in Pullman, but there are non-caffeinated drive-thrus in town. I would argue Pullman residents want a Target, Dutch Bros and an AMC, or just any movie theater for that matter. 

At the end of the day, Pullman does not need to reinvent itself; it just needs to take advantage of the empty buildings and bored customers. There are wide open spaces all over town waiting to boost the commerce in Pullman. A Costco, Red Robin and TJ Maxx will not only bring variety to town, they’d bring jobs, boost the local economy and save residents a drive across the Palouse searching for a pair of durable snow boots. 

Small towns thrive when they balance a community’s charm with modern joys. Pullman is more than ready for that balance. With initiatives like Promote Pullman and City Council, there’s reason to hope that Pullman is on track to satisfy students and long-time residents’ needs. 

Until then, we’ll keep dreaming about Red Robin’s bottomless fries and Costco gas prices a little closer to home.