Building History

The University Village Lanes began to occupy space at 4900 25th Avenue NE by at least 1980. It allied for a Cabaret Class C License at this address in 1980. (See Classified ad, Seattle Times, 04/23/1980, p. F18.) It operated in this space until at least 1992. (See "Gang of Youths Beat UW Student, Snatch Her Coat," Seattle Times, 11/18/1992, p. A9.)

Other, smaller businesses leased space at this address during the 1970s-1990s. The Seaboard Planning Corporation occupied space at 4900 25th Ave NE Suite 203 in 1970. (See Seaboard Planning Corporation ad, Seattle Times, 02/08/1970, p. B9.) Weight Watchers of Greater Puget Sound, Inc., Room #200, (See Donna J. Carroll, “Get Thin on Delicious Diet,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 05/31/1972, p. C2.) A Stanley Kaplan Educational Center operated in Room #206 of this address between 1977 and 1981. A Sylvan Learning Center had Room #200 in 1977 and #203 in 1984. It also remained there in 1988. (See Sylvan Learning Center ads, Seattle Times, 02/17/1977, p. H10 and Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Seattle Times, Pacific Magazine, 05/27/1984 , p 18.) An unnamed staffing agency also rented office space at 4900 25th Avenue N.E., between 1990 and 1995. (See help wanted ad, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 01/28/1995, p. D9.)

In 05/1996, Office Depot, an office-supply superstore took over the whole building. An article in the Seattle Times of 05/03/1996 stated: “Office Depot will open its newest superstore in Seattle next week, bringing to 12 the number of outlets that the big office-products retailers has in the greater Seattle area. The store, at 4900 25th Ave., N.E., will carry a $1.8 million inventory of merchandise, ranging from basic office supplies to business machines and office furniture, company officials said. The Delray Beach, Fla.-based chain runs 513 stores under the names Office Depot, Office Place, Images and Furniture and Work.” (See “Office Depot to Open 12th Superstore in Area,” Seattle Times, 05/03/1996, p. D1.)

Demolition

The City of Seattle granted a demolition permit on the Office Depot site on 12/14/2020, and the building was razed in early 2021. It was to be replaced by housing erected by US Alliance Broadstone NE Seattle, LLC.