Microsoft has over 15,000 employees in Bellevue and over 90,000 employees in Redmond, Issaquah, Bellevue and Seattle combined, yet they still do not yet have a retail presence in the area. Last year Microsoft opened their first retail stores in Scottsdale, AZ and Mission Viejo, CA.
Microsoft has plans to add future stores and at some point will likely add a store in the greater Seattle area. What better place to add a retail store in the area than at Bellevue Square, where the first Apple Store in the Pacific Northwest was established.
Apple opened their store at Bellevue Square in May of 2003. It’s interesting to note that although it was the 55th Apple Store to open, it was planned as the 3rd store to open in its fleet. The store was initially scoped as a much larger store that would have had street visibility, in the location that is currently occupied by Red Robin; its current location was eventually settled upon in what we refer to as the Luxury Wing at Bellevue Square across from Tiffany’s.
Microsoft was founded in Bellevue and has strong connections in Downtown Bellevue, occupying space for employees at Lincoln Square, The Bravern, City Center Plaza, and Civica buildings. A Microsoft retail store in Bellevue Square would continue to diversify the types of stores at Bellevue Square and reinforce Microsoft’s roots in the area. I can’t think of a better place for Microsoft to add a store!
