By Corvo Rohwer, Puyallup Tribal News
Riverbend Social is on its way in 2027.
The multipurpose arts venue in downtown Tacoma formerly known as ALMA will soon reopen its doors as Riverbend Social, and will feature a café, lounge and performance hall operated under Tribal ownership.
The 22,000-square-foot community center was gifted to the Puyallup Tribe by ALMA LLC in July 2025 with the no-strings transition facilitated by the Indigenous-led nonprofit Anpo. Now under the Puyallup Tribal Enterprises umbrella, Puyallup Tribal Member Sheila Dillon was appointed as general manager.
Puyallup Tribal Enterprises CEO Matt Wadhwani said it made sense to iterate on the existing spaces within the building rather than starting completely fresh, believing in the potential of the building as a community gathering place.
“We saw Riverbend Social as an opportunity to build on what already made the ALMA property special,” Wadhwani said. “The existing café, lounge and performance space gave us a strong foundation, but what really stood out was the opportunity around the venue. There are relatively few, quality mid-sized venues in the market, and with the continued revitalization of downtown Tacoma and the growing presence of UW Tacoma, we believe there is an opportunity to create something that is both commercially successful and an important gathering place for the community.”
Building renovations are being done by the Puyallup Tribal Enterprises construction company Tahoma Construction Services and are largely focused on the first floor of the building, as well as the fenced-in outdoor area that connects to the performance hall.
Dillon said much of the current work is directed on new design features. Some of the original features of the building will remain intact, such as the small open-mic stage in the café.
“I do want to preserve some of the character,” Dillon said. “It’s been here for so long that I won’t be changing the layout, as opposed to just breathing life back into it.”
While the café and lounge remain in the planning stages when it comes to design and menu items, Dillon expressed interest in exploring ways to incorporate traditional foods including organic teas, huckleberries and salmon, which she hopes to source locally.
As for the performance hall, Dillon said she anticipates Riverbend hosting a variety of shows, ranging from musical performances to themed parties. Combined with the outdoor area, she said she hopes the space could also be used for seasonal gatherings or cultural events for the Tribe.
“I’m hoping once we get the experience of a few shows we’ll be able to work with the Culture Department to maybe get some storytelling in here,” Dillon said.
More information about opportunities for Tribal Member involvement will become available as work on the building progresses. Riverbend Social is currently aiming to open its lounge, café and performance hall in spring 2027. Second floor renovations will come at a later date as part of a phase two following the initial opening.
