T acoma is an adjective synonymous with “tough-chic élan,” “quirky” and “groovy, baby.”

Use: “That art festival was so Tacoma!” or “That hipster who walked into the Blackwater just screamed Tacoma!” or “The Tempest and the Monsoon Room are so Tacoma.”

And the embodiment of the adjective, aside from the aforementioned?

Freighthouse Square.

No, really.

Here’s this green behemoth of a building tucked in the heart of the “grit” of the city, in between the Port, several sets of railroad tracks, and Tacoma Dome.  Here’s this entity that ties past transit history to current transit, in between both the Link and Sounder tracks, and near the Amtrak and Greyhound Stations where the Spirit of Washington Train will also soon stake a claim, and where occasionally the Grand Luxe Express comes through to dwarf mere mortal Tacoma trains.

As such, it seems natural that the building would house … shops? 

OK, maybe not completely “natural,” but that’s part of the Tacoma-ness of it. 

It’s completely random and perfectly Tacoma, a little (if you can call three city blocks, “little”) patch of heaven where you can find Haggis, Lancer wine, Sushi, Warsteiner beer, Lamb-burger, freedom rings, $5.00 jeans, a Marilyn Monroe oversized tee, a wind-up butterfly, LEGO sculptures, cell phones and service, decadent cake made to your epic Weekly Volcano specifications, and slot car racing.

And that’s just a taste of it.

I toured the revived Freighthouse Square with managing partner Larry Miller and noted the growing and changing spaces. Shops including A British Affaire and Crescent Moon Gifts moved into bigger digs, and the former coffee shop offering fresh Peggy’s Cinnamon Rolls is expanding under new ownership into a bigger Wi-Fi enabled coffee stop that will continue to provide commuters’ three favorite addictions: the Internet, caffeine and sweet sticky rolls.

The new TostaCaffe will have on-premise bean roasting capacity, which means that commuters may even be able to pack fresh beans into their laptop cases along with other favorites like German imported beers from the Freight Haus German Corner or any number of wines available in The Giving Place, which is the only place on the planet I know of where I can find Extra Sugarfree Gum, Happy Bunny shopping lists and magnets, various random tub toys, stemware, and office supplies, along with the wine. It’s the kind of random rad I love stumbling upon, and it stands as a sort of microcosm that reflects Freighthouse Square reflecting Tacoma.

Cue announcer: “But wait, there’s more!”

The Spirit of Washington Dinner Train will offer service from Freighthouse Square to Eatonville beginning August 3, and a new shop called Northwest Unique is getting the finishing touches painted before it becomes occupied by all manner of “great artistic products,” per Miller, that he has scouted out on his travels looking for new and exciting tenants. Global Creations will also add to the cool eclecticism of the shopping with items from all over the world — go to the Square on Tuesday and visit the afternoon Farmer’s Market from 3 to 7 p.m. and listen to some live music while you get those fresh veggies. Generally, the Square is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., although Sundays are abbreviated and quite a few shops and food vendors open early enough to provide goods to early commuters.

For kids and charmed young-at-heart individuals, there’s City Blocks, the LEGO building haven where you can try your own hand at a toy masterpiece inspired by the pieces you see before you. Or, if LEGO is a bit too static, you can venture down a level and head into www.SlotKar.com. The low-tech slot cars look like a curious mix between Matchbox and model trains, with an entire landscape built up that includes Beavis (or is that Butthead) in the stands, cheering, as well as a cemetery, pits, and plenty of other random to-scale goodness to keep you interested for hours.

The Square houses other kinds of hobbies as well, like The Tacoma Northwest Model Railroad Club, Krazy Kat Fiber Haus, The Freighthouse Art Gallery, Katy’s Antiques, and the overriding hobby of shopping at places like Zephyr’s Clothing and Philly’s Fashion Flava, or the hobby of getting spiffed up either at Reminiscence Photography Studio or at The Envy.

And because Tacoma is also a noun synonymous with “event,” look for a big to-do on July 21 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — The Freighthouse Square’s 20th Birthday Bash and Car Show. Naturally this event is going to offer as much diverse cool stuff as the shops themselves, with the car show, live music from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring  Okham’s Razor, and The German Haus’ Beer Garden and brats, as well as edible goodies from many of the other food vendors.

And in the Phoenix Room, a fashion-flavor themed event will be taking place, “A Formal — A’ Faire” with a fashion show co produced by Renaissance Photography Studio and Zephyr Clothing featuring clothing by locals Danielle Higgins (ADHD Fashions) and Emilie Stevens (Plumage Couture). Additionally, you can find all manner of pampering tips for your special day with local vendors sharing expertise.

“All roads lead to Freighthouse Square,” Miller says, repeating the motto of the shopping center. “There really is no place like it.”

Yup.  It’s very Tacoma.

Freighthouse Square’s 20th Birthday Bash and Car Show

Featuring: Cars, live music, fashion show, makeovers, giveaways, beer garden and more.

When: Saturday, July 21, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Freighthouse Square, 2501 E. D St., Tacoma, 253.468.6003, www.freighthousesquare.com.

Admission: Free.