Downtown Seattle Association President and CEO Jon Scholes speaks at the organization’s annual State of Downtown event in Seattle on Tuesday. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)
Downtown Seattle is on the path to a “bloom loop,” signaling a hopeful shift from the pandemic-era “doom loop,” according to business leaders and city officials at the recent State of Downtown event.
Jon Scholes, president of the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA), highlighted the city’s progress after years of pandemic-driven challenges. While issues like high office vacancy rates and crime persist, key indicators suggest a turnaround. In 2024, local visitors to downtown surged 20% to 1.1 million, and foot traffic in the Pike-Pine corridor surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Office leasing also hit a five-year high, with 448 new leases signed.
Seattle’s largest private employer, Amazon, has begun bringing workers back to the office full-time, already boosting foot traffic. January 2025 data showed the second-highest daily average of worker foot traffic since March 2020 and nearly 2 million unique visitors downtown—94% of pre-pandemic levels.
Mayor Bruce Harrell and Governor Bob Ferguson expressed optimism about Seattle’s recovery, emphasizing continued investment in the city’s core. “2024 was a great year,” Harrell said. “And going into 2025, this is when we dig deep.”
As businesses, workers, and visitors return, Seattle’s retail and economic landscape is poised for further revitalization.
