You do not have to know much about Bellevue, Washington, to know Bellevue Square. It is right in the center — a familiar landmark for shopping, eating, walking, or passing the time.
It looks polished today, built out with more than 200 stores and a steady flow of visitors. But it started in a different world: farmland, two-lane roads, and a town without a skyline.
Bellevue Square grew alongside the city. Knowing where the mall started says a lot about how the whole Eastside changed…