In a strategic move, Amazon has opted to vacate a small office space located in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. According to a report from the Puget Sound Business Journal, Amazon terminated its 17,000 square foot lease at 224 Westlake Ave. N.
The early termination of the lease at 224 Westlake marked the conclusion of a 15-year agreement inked by Amazon back in April 2013, which included provisions for early termination. The lease was officially terminated by Amazon in late July.
The recently vacated space is located within a five-story building that is also home to several other companies like Northwest Retail Partners Ltd. and Kinwell Primary Care. Neighboring the site is another building at 202 Westlake Ave. N. that is also occupied by Amazon.
Notably, this isn’t the first Seattle office building that Amazon has left since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May of this year, the company announced its intentions to move more employees to its offices in Bellevue.The firm said it would relocate 2,000 employees from its Seattle offices to two new downtown Bellevue towers at the end of 2023. The West Main Tower 1 and the 555 Tower, which were spared from Amazon’s construction pause in Bellevue last year, are expected to open in the fourth quarter and would potentially increase Amazon’s headcount in Bellevue to over 12,000 employees.
Despite these departures, Amazon has executed other strategic moves that suggest its recent exits may not necessarily signal a broader retreat from its roots in Seattle. In 2021, the company renewed its lease for office space within the tower located at 1918 Eighth Ave., and recent filings with the city indicate that Amazon has expanded its presence by securing additional floors within the same building.
The tech giant’s real estate decisions in Seattle are closely watched, as they provide insights into Amazon’s evolving workplace needs, its commitment to its hometown, and its broader strategies in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
