News
The Sea Boss Retires
From the Ocean Pavilion to Seattle’s Waterfront makeover, Seattle Aquarium CEO Bob Davidson leaves a legacy that will last for generations
When Bob Davidson visited the Seattle Aquarium 22 years ago as newly appointed CEO, he brought his three college and high school age sons along to tour the facility…
New Overlook Walk Draws Crowds
Downtown visits are up significantly
Foot traffic along Seattle’s Central waterfront is spiking since the new Overlook Walk opened earlier this month. From Oct. 4 to 11 — the first week Overlook Walk was open — nearly 50,000 people visited, a 142% increase over 2019 levels. The Walk connects Pike Place Market and downtown Seattle to Puget Sound and the…
Whitman Nabs State’s Top University/College Ranking
UW places second in WalletHub study
In a battle fought in the classroom and not on a field or court, a new study ranks Whitman College No. 1 in the state. Personal finance website WalletHub compared more than 800 higher-ed institutions across the U.S. in more than 30 categories (including post-graduate salaries) for its College & University Rankings (2025). Whitman, in…
‘Transformative’ Overlook Walk Opens Along Seattle’s Waterfront
The elevated walk is another sign that the massive renovation is almost complete
Seattle’s multi-billion-dollar waterfront renovation was always about connecting Pike Place Market and downtown Seattle to Puget Sound and the new 20-acre Waterfront Park. With the Oct. 4 opening of the elevated Overlook Walk, that dream has been realized…
Costco’s Gold Rush Continues
Sales of gold bullion rise again
In one of the many iconic Seinfeld episodes, comedian Kenny Bania describes a popular bit from his comedy act: “That’s gold, Jerry! Gold.” He may as well have been referring to Costco’s ever-increasing sales of gold bars. The Issaquah-based warehouse chain said in its earnings call yesterday that sales of gold bars rose “double digits”…
The Numbers Point to a Downtown Seattle Recovery
The city’s core is slowly inching its way back
Visit Seattle says downtown Seattle hotels sold 403,000 rooms in August, the second-highest monthly total since March 2020. More than 3 million unique visitors came downtown — that’s 96% of August 2019 numbers, and a 6% increase year over year…
PCC to Reopen Downtown Seattle Store
Smaller-format store will feature prepared foods and a deli
The Seattle-based co-op grocer will return to its former location at Fourth Avenue and Union Street in the second half of next year. The new store will be smaller, occupying only a portion of its former space. The grocer says it is “contractually obligated” to its long-term lease obligation. The former store was open for two years before PCC shuttered it last January.
Starbucks CEO Vows to Reduce Wait Times, Reestablish ‘Community’ Focus
Brian Niccol writes an open letter in just his second day on the job
It’s only his second day on the job, but new Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol isn’t wasting any time as he seeks to revitalize the Seattle coffee giant. “We aren’t always delivering,” Niccol said in an open letter on the Starbucks website. “It can feel transactional, menus can feel overwhelming, product is inconsistent, the wait too…
Seattle’s Influence Grows Across the World
International Downtown Conference welcomes almost 1,400 visitors
Seattle is truly on the global stage this week. Starting Sept. 11 and running through Sept. 13, the International Downtown Association convenes in Seattle for its 70th annual conference. The event features almost 1,400 community leaders, urban planners, and elected officials from 46 states and 10 countries. “This conference is an annual highlight for urban…
Dive into the Design Behind Seattle Aquarium’s New Ocean Pavilion
A team of designers, artists, architects, scientists, and engineers worked together to complete the multi-year project
“When we started the project, the viaduct was still there,” says architect Osama Quotah, a partner at LMN. “We were imagining a project that would happen in a condition that didn’t exist at the time.” As part of the larger waterfront overhaul, the pavilion needed to fit into the existing fabric of downtown Seattle’s western border, which includes the ferry terminal, Pike Place Market, the Great Wheel, and public piers full of shops and restaurants…
