It may not look like much from the outside, but 30 years ago, something big was brewing in the garage at 10704 NE 28th St. in Bellevue. It’s where Jeff Bezos launched a little online bookselling business called Amazon.
The famous home recently went on the market again, complete with a makeshift Amazon sign to lean into the space’s bizzy history.
But a lot has changed in three decades — and we’re not just talking about gut renovations. Let’s take an inside look.
Back in the day
Then: Bezos rented the pad for $890 per month
Now: The 1954-built, three-bedroom craftsman is listed for $2.28 million four years after it sold for $1.5 million.
Then: Amazon’s garage offices consisted of two desks built from $60 Home Depot doors.
Now: The company employs ~65,000 people nearby in Bellevue and Seattle housed in shiny towers and giant glass spheres that double as botanical gardens.
Then: There was an oversized mailbox that Amazon used to cram in all those book catalogs that helped grow the business initially. .
Now: Recent owners ditched the mailbox, but you’ll find fancier amenities like granite countertops and a hot tub.
Then: A full tour of “Amazon.com Inc.” took less than a minute.
Now: The original home looks a lot different after a 2001 reconstruction — and there are now two basement spaces instead of one.
Any takers?
According to the realtor handling the listing, a recent open house was packed to the gills with a mix of curious lookie-loos and those with genuine buying interest.
Beyond the iconic garage, there’s a cozy, light-filled great room, a modern kitchen with maple accents, and an outdoor “party” deck. The surrounding Clyde Hill neighborhood is also consistently ranked among Washington’s “best places to live.”
Who knows? Maybe you’ll get a billion dollar idea and the pad will pay for itself.
