By all accounts, when the Alma event space shut its doors in 2023, the move was swift and unexpected. An investment property for the “Wend Collective,” a foundation developed by James Walton of the ‘Walmart’ family, the site established a reputation in Tacoma’s community as a community driven arts, music, and events space.
The 22,000 sq. ft. building hosted two restaurants, an outdoor courtyard, a recording studio, and an event space supporting endeavors like the Punk Rock Flea Market, the Native Art Market, and numerous local scholastic programs in a central, downtown Tacoma location.
“I remember when I was first starting out how broke I was,” said Kootenai artist and Tacoman, Paige Pettibone in a 2023 interview with Tacoma’s News Tribune. “It’s stressful. You don’t know if you’re going to break even … ALMA was able to give us the opportunity to have our own economy — vendors got to keep all their money.”
If that kind of opportunity seems too good to be true, it may just be that it was. After more than five years of operation, Alma abruptly closed shop in 2023, laying off nearly 50 employees. No direct statement on the reason for the closure was given. A statement on the center’s website at the time declared:
“Becoming a part of the fabric of Downtown Tacoma and the rich history of what was the Carpenters Union Building is something we took to heart. We sincerely hope that the spirit of diversity, community, resilience, and ingenuity fostered at ALMA continues to permeate the neighborhood and beyond.”
Documents reported by the News Tribune show that the Wend Collective produced just $21.3 million in revenue in 2023, while reporting business expenses totaling over $33 million.
While the building has sat vacant for the two years since its closure, at the time Alma shut down hopes were high that something would be done to keep the $3.28 million dollar property in the community. Fortunately, with the involvement of Anpo—“a newly established Indigenous-led organization that restores and protects our generational connections to our lands, languages, and cultures”—the Alma building and all connecting property has been donated “no strings attached” to the Puyallup tribe.
“The Puyallup people have always been stewards of the land, water, and salmon — not just for their own community, but for all who call this place home,” Anpo CEO Jodi Archambault announced in a press release for the building’s donation. “This gift recognizes that deep responsibility and honors a truth that’s long been known here: When Indigenous leadership thrives, the whole region benefits. We are proud to stand alongside the Tribe as they continue to shape a more just and vibrant future for Tacoma.”
As for what the building’s future will be, now that it has come under new ownership? That remains to be seen. Speaking to the News Tribune, Chairman Bill Sterud announced that the tribe would be working to develop a comprehensive plan for the event space.
“We’ll have our staff roll up their sleeves and go through that building from bottom to top and come up with a plan,” Sterud announced. “I’m just ecstatic that this has happened … What an incredible gift. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”
