GNDT October 22 – 28

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 10/28/2025 02:15 PM PDT

Hi all,

Sending another Good News Downtown, a communication to showcase uplifting, interesting, positive stories about activities and people Downtown.

If you have news or events to share, or if you want to talk about the work being done to revitalize Downtown, send me an email.

Seattle Restored participants: (left) Mabel Brempong, (right) Pomp + Sway

Credit: Growing Boy Media

Seattle Restored fills vacant spaces in Pacific Place 🛍️

Seattle Restored is transforming vacant Pacific Place storefronts into vibrant showcases of local talent and small business success. The partnership is bringing five pop-ups to the Downtown mall through the end of 2025, two of which are already open!

Mabel Brempong is a women-led fashion brand focused on sustainable luxury and Pomp + Sway is a boutique featuring upcycled fashion and artisan home décor. Both shops celebrate conscious design and community connection, adding new energy and purpose to one of Downtown’s premier retail destinations: Seattle Restored Brings New Life To Vacant Storefronts With Local Artists and Entrepreneurs – Secret Seattle.

Weekly digest

wman with brown hair holds a phone with a tripod in pioneer square

Credit: Seattle Times

Pioneer Square is experiencing a vibrant resurgence, fueled by a wave of social media attention. Businesses in the historic neighborhood are pushing their brands on platforms like Instagram and YouTube or using social media influencers to spotlight their storefronts: Seattle's Pioneer Square is having a moment, thanks to social media buzz – Seattle Times.

🥋💙 Supporters raised over $100,000 to fund a new Bruce Lee statue at Hing Hay Park in the Chinatown-International District, celebrating the martial arts icon’s deep ties to Seattle. The project, led by community organizers and fans in connection with the City, aims to create a lasting tribute that honors Lee’s cultural legacy while drawing visitors and new energy to one of Downtown’s most historic neighborhoods: Bruce Lee fans raise $100K for Hing Hay Park statue – NW Asian Weekly.

Credit: Port of Seattle

🛳️🌊The 2025 cruise season broke records this year, generating $1.2 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 5,000 local jobs in hospitality, retail, and tourism. With over 1.9 million passengers, the Port of Seattle’s busy season brought unprecedented activity to Downtown streets, restaurants, and attractions. The Port also reached a new sustainability milestone, expanding shore power to all three cruise berths and connecting 65% of ships to cleaner energy, spotlighting Seattle’s leadership in both sustainable tourism and maritime innovation: 2025 Cruise Season Ends with Record Passenger Numbers – Port of Seattle.

It's not just the Waterfront seeing a boost, Downtown’s office market is making a comeback! 🏢 According to the Downtown Seattle Association’s Revitalization Dashboard, the third quarter of 2025 marked a turning point. For the first time since the same time period in 2021, companies rented more office space than they vacated, renting over 21,000 square feet more than they gave up.

Looking ahead

🎃🍬 Get Frights and Delights on Friday, October 31 from 3 – 8 p.m. at Waterfront Park! This free, family-friendly Halloween event will feature trick-or-treating, costume contests, live music, and festive fun along the scenic waterfront, perfect for all ages to celebrate the end of the Halloween season: Waterfront Park Frights and Delights.

💀🧡 Join the community on Saturday, November 1 – Sunday, November 2 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Seattle Center Armory for the Día de los Muertos Festival! The celebration will feature traditional music, dance, food, and ofrendas honoring loved ones. This annual festival invites families to share in Mexican traditions and celebrate cultural connection across the city.

Graphic celebrating Bunka No Hi (Japanese Culture Day) on November 2

Credit: Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington

🍜🍵 Celebrate Japanese culture and craftsmanship at Bunka no Hi (Japanese Culture Day) on Sunday, November 2 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. This free, family-friendly festival features live art demonstrations, tea ceremonies, sumo, traditional crafts, and Japanese treats from local vendors.