A shuttered Bed Bath & Beyond will become downtown Seattle’s newest music and arts venue

As retailers and businesses abandon downtown districts that have struggled in the era of hybrid work, some are betting on cultural events to help revitalize them.

In the year since Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy, the chain’s stores have become a hot commodity of sorts—finding new lives as pickleball courts, fitness centers, and, of course, other retailers. This week, a group announced that a former Bed Bath & Beyond store in downtown Seattle will be reenvisioned as a music and visual arts center next year.