Seattle Culture
Downtown Seattle Foot Traffic is Up, Thanks to Amazon
Still lags pre-pandemic numbers
By Rob Smith February 14, 2025
Amazon’s return-to-office mandate resulted in a measurable increase among downtown Seattle office workers in January, but the numbers still aren’t anywhere near where they were six years ago.
The Downtown Seattle Association’s Revitalization Dashboard shows foot traffic in neighborhoods where Amazon’s offices are located (South Lake Union and Denny Regrade) at 74% of that of January 2019. Overall, downtown-area foot traffic was 9% higher than it was a year ago, though only 57% of the pre-pandemic average.
“In January we saw an immediate difference in the amount of people who are downtown during the week and that’s continued into February,” says Downtown Seattle Association President and CEO Jon Scholes, noting that returning workers are just one part of downtown’s continued revitalization. “Coffee shops are full, lunch spots are buzzing, and there’s more activity in the area.”
Amazon last year said all workers must return to their offices five days a week, starting in January. That brought 55,000 more people to company offices in Seattle alone. Excluding the New Year’s Day and MLK Day holidays, the downtown core averaged nearly 95,000 daily workers, the second highest since March 2020.
Nearly 2 million unique visitors came downtown in January, or 94% of visitors six years ago and 14% higher than last January.
Several coming attractions promise to boost downtown numbers even more, including The Northwest Flower and Garden Show from Feb. 19-23 (an estimated 60,000 people and a $14 million boost to the economy): the opening game of Seattle Sounders FC on Feb. 22; and the 2025 Emerald City Comic Con from March 6-9, an event expected to bring 25,000 people to the Seattle Convention Center. Last year’s economic impact was estimated at more than $21 million.
The Downtown Seattle Association takes an expansive view of downtown, and includes these neighborhoods: Uptown; South Lake Union; West Capitol Hill; Belltown; Denny Triangle; West Edge; the retail core; First Hill; Waterfront; Pioneer Square; SODO; and the Chinatown-International District.
Follow Us
Fixing Third Avenue, One Step At A Time
New lighting is part of a broader effort to revitalize the street
Third Avenue has long been the scourge of downtown Seattle. It’s been sketchy for at least the better part of two decades. It may not seem like much, but festive lighting has been installed along the “Spark Block,” between Stewart and Pine streets on Third Avenue. The enhancement includes striking catenary lighting and builds on…
Saying Goodbye to Barney
Seattle’s oldest harbor seal, the first born at the Aquarium, leaves behind nearly 40 years of memories
The aquarium and the city have lost a good friend. Barney, the Seattle Aquarium’s longtime harbor seal, has passed away at the age of 39 — roughly the equivalent of a centenarian in human years. He was the first harbor seal born at the Aquarium in 1985. He was also one of the oldest harbor…
Gratuities Have Reached a Tipping Point
Washington residents are among the least generous in the country
How much do you tip? How much should you tip? Maybe you don’t tip at all? The average tip in Washington state is 17.51% of the check, about 1.3% below the national average. Only California residents tip less, 17.4%. TradingPedia surveyed more than 2,000 adults exploring tipping behaviors across the United States in late February,…
In This Issue: Second Homes; A Crazy Decade; Aging Well.
Seattle magazine’s latest issue is on shelves now
The new issue of Seattle magazine has arrived! You’ll find it at bookstores, grocery stores, and anywhere you pick up magazines. This edition takes a look at second homes — why people are drawn to them and what they mean for the region. There’s a certain romanticism about second, or vacation homes. They provide escape…