LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA – Lots of locals in Lafayette have fond memories of Boswell’s Party Store.
The local shop served the community for 35+ years. If you wanted balloons, Paw Patrol cutlery or items for Halloween, this was the place to go.
Boswell’s closed abruptly in 2019 after losing its lease, and its prominent building has sat empty ever since. Lately, though, readers noticed some activity inside. We did a bit of digging, and found that big changes are on the way for the former Boswells!
Boswell’s building at 3483 Mt. Diablo Blvd. is now being actively marketed for sale as part of a two-property offering called “Lafayette Square Buildings For Sale.”
The listing describes the site as a redevelopment opportunity, says the building is in shell condition, and notes that the property includes about 7,810 square feet of building space on roughly 0.77 acres. The commercial listing went live on Feb. 17, 2026 so it’s quite new–thus the interior work people have been noticing.
The property’s zoning could open the door to a wide range of future uses. According to the sales materials, the site’s Plaza District zoning allows retail, office, medical, eating establishment, civic/cultural and housing uses.
An older leasing listing for the same address also described a large open floor plan, a shared parking lot and a drive-thru coffee kiosk on the property.
Again, the site has been sitting in limbo for years. Boswell’s closed its Lafayette store in July 2019, and the building at 3483 Mt. Diablo Blvd. has been tied to multiple redevelopment and city discussions since then.
Lafayette officials have also continued to discuss the property behind closed doors. City Council agendas and meeting records show the city has repeatedly held closed-session negotiations over 3483 Mt. Diablo Blvd., including in November 2023 and again on Feb. 26, 2024.
Those records identify Bill Stuart as the negotiating party and say the discussions involved “lease and real property” terms, though no reportable action was announced after the February 2024 session. William Stuart is listed as the contact for the “For Sale” listing–presumably the same person.
The parcel is also part of Lafayette’s housing planning. In the city’s housing sites inventory, 3483 Mt. Diablo Blvd. is listed as a 0.77-acre “vacant retail building” in the East End Commercial area, with zoning allowing up to 35 dwelling units per acre.
Taken together, the public records suggest the former Boswell’s site is no longer just an empty former party store. With the property now on the market, city interest documented in recent closed sessions, and zoning that allows both commercial and housing uses, the building looks increasingly likely to see a major new chapter.
The housing aspect might be key here. Together with its parking lot and the current coffee stand, it’s possible that the Boswell’s building could eventually turn into some kind of mixed-use development, with apartments and retail.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on this one! Join our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you updated when Boswell’s building sells.
