Amazon Looking For 2nd City to Open Secondary HQ (Seattle: fit in, credit)

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Thanks for the recommendations, think I actually ate at that Italian place before and always make an effort to get to Pikes Market (To me along with RTM in Philly the best markets in the country)


Will check out the Gin joint, haven't spent much time in Belltown so maybe a good excursion

RTM= Reading Terminal Market?

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Ira500

RTM= Reading Terminal Market?

Yes

[modc]

I agree Denver and Austin are top contenders. What about Pittsburgh? It's got a low cost of living, large population, and has Carnegie Mellon university along with university of Pittsburgh right there. It's got some fun neighborhoods in Oakland and squirrel Hill.

The weather is pretty bad but if Chicago is a contender, why not Pittsburgh? I'd rather live in Pittsburgh than Chicago. Although Denver would be my first choice out of all the cities mentioned here.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Yes

Wonderful place.Used to go there as a kid( and the Italian Market in South Philly), growing up outside of Trenton. I just discovered a bar in Renton( where I live) that flies in Amoroso rolls from Philly. The place is a dive, but their cheese steaks are maybe the best I've had outside of Philadelphia.

[Eric324]

Austin and Chicago seem like the top choices to me. Denver might be too far West.

[GatsbyGatz]

I think Austin or Chicago would be best. I agree that Denver seems too far West and seems like it would just end up competing too much with Seattle.

[RotseCherut]

Jeff Bezos being a fairly staunch libertarian, at least in the business arena, is probably starting to sweat seeing the insane anti-business policies being implemented in Seattle by its ludicrous Stalinist city council. As well, Washington state government has become more and more liberal, socialist and anti-business as more and more radical leftists move to the state and demand wealth redistribution and demand a waterfront view just like all the evil capitalists have. Yes, everyone must be equal and its not fair that I am poor and you are rich. Nevermind, that millions of people are moving to a city that is already overfilled to capacity and then blaming the rich for all the problems, as always.

So, Bezos is preparing for the worst and, in my opinion, is going to look for an exit-stragety for what he sees as the inevitable decline of Seattle's corporate infrastructure or, at least, the massive hindrance and obstacles that will be faced by the corporate and business environment as a result of Washington (and especially Seattle's) crazy liberal politics.

Knowing how Bezos thinks, my bet is that he will pick the most business friendly, lowest taxed, conservative-minded and somewhat affordable environment for Amazon's New Headquarters. Yes, I am not saying 2nd headquarters, as I do believe by Bezos looking for a "2nd Headquarters" is actually the first step of Amazon moving its core operations out of the Seattle area. Of course, this will probably be something that happens in steps and increments. Bezos could have easily done like Microsoft, Google, Facebook and opened up extension campuses in Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Woodinville, even Tacoma; but, he would face very similar problems in those places too. He is looking for a 2nd Headquarters, because he is probably having bad feelings of having his headquarters in Washington state for the long haul.

Amazon is such a reputable company that people will flock from all over to work there. And, considering Amazon is one of the most miserable software companies to work for, very few people in the area would leave respectable IT jobs to work the grueling and cutthroat atmosphere that is typical of Amazon in the IT arena, at least. In fact, having too many other companies in the area could also be a double-edge sword for Amazon, who loses more IT talent to other companies than most other major corporations. Amazon usually is a stepping stone for other companies, not a place where people work until they retire.

With that being said, here are some potential places that Amazon may migrate its new headquarters.. They may seem unbelievable to some, but this is just my own speculation done on my research of the company and Bezos, himself. As far as the argument that he wants a pool of skilled talent, I don't believe that would even come close to being a majority decision maker. THe reason why is that even operating in IT mecca of Seattle, a good number of Amazon employees have been sourced from other regions and overseas. In fact, many do not realize that Amazon has huge operation centers in India, where a good number of their IT staff and customer service reps are located.

So some of my bets, may be places that are much less obvious:
Nashville, TN (Pro-Business, Affordable, Centrally Located City, Rising IT Market, Less Competition
Nashville to make bid for Amazon.com headquarters, 50,000 jobs

Salt Lake City, UT
Phoenix, AZ
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX (Not As Likely As Dallas, IMO, same issues as Seattle and Cost of Living not far from Seattle's.. Being in Biz Friendly Texas is the Only Boon here, coupled with being a big tech city)
Kansas City, MO (6% State Tax Could Be Deal Breaker, But Fairly Biz Friendly State and One of Cheapest Metro areas in Country.. $90,000/yr salary goes a long long way here)

Minneapolis, MN/Chicago, IL (Affordable Major Metro Areas and Good Logistics, Horrible Weather and Neither are Tech-Centered Cities. Illinois has very liberal politics that could be turn-off to Libertarian-minded Bezos).

Raleigh-Durham Triangle, NC (Affordable to live, Business Friendly and Major Tech Hub)
Charlotte, NC (Same as Triangle.. Tech is rising in this city)

Atlanta, GA (Good Logistics, Biz Friendly, Conservative, Big Tech City)

[palcarles]

Originally Posted by RotseCherut

Jeff Bezos being a fairly staunch libertarian, at least in the business arena, is probably starting to sweat seeing the insane anti-business policies being implemented in Seattle by its ludicrous Stalinist city council. As well, Washington state government has become more and more liberal, socialist and anti-business as more and more radical leftists move to the state and demand wealth redistribution and demand a waterfront view just like all the evil capitalists have. Yes, everyone must be equal and its not fair that I am poor and you are rich. Nevermind, that millions of people are moving to a city that is already overfilled to capacity and then blaming the rich for all the problems, as always.

So, Bezos is preparing for the worst and, in my opinion, is going to look for an exit-stragety for what he sees as the inevitable decline of Seattle's corporate infrastructure or, at least, the massive hindrance and obstacles that will be faced by the corporate and business environment as a result of Washington (and especially Seattle's) crazy liberal politics.

Knowing how Bezos thinks, my bet is that he will pick the most business friendly, lowest taxed, conservative-minded and somewhat affordable environment for Amazon's New Headquarters. Yes, I am not saying 2nd headquarters, as I do believe by Bezos looking for a "2nd Headquarters" is actually the first step of Amazon moving its core operations out of the Seattle area. Of course, this will probably be something that happens in steps and increments. Bezos could have easily done like Microsoft, Google, Facebook and opened up extension campuses in Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Woodinville, even Tacoma; but, he would face very similar problems in those places too. He is looking for a 2nd Headquarters, because he is probably having bad feelings of having his headquarters in Washington state for the long haul.

Amazon is such a reputable company that people will flock from all over to work there. And, considering Amazon is one of the most miserable software companies to work for, very few people in the area would leave respectable IT jobs to work the grueling and cutthroat atmosphere that is typical of Amazon in the IT arena, at least. In fact, having too many other companies in the area could also be a double-edge sword for Amazon, who loses more IT talent to other companies than most other major corporations. Amazon usually is a stepping stone for other companies, not a place where people work until they retire.

With that being said, here are some potential places that Amazon may migrate its new headquarters.. They may seem unbelievable to some, but this is just my own speculation done on my research of the company and Bezos, himself. As far as the argument that he wants a pool of skilled talent, I don't believe that would even come close to being a majority decision maker. THe reason why is that even operating in IT mecca of Seattle, a good number of Amazon employees have been sourced from other regions and overseas. In fact, many do not realize that Amazon has huge operation centers in India, where a good number of their IT staff and customer service reps are located.

So some of my bets, may be places that are much less obvious:
Nashville, TN (Pro-Business, Affordable, Centrally Located City, Rising IT Market, Less Competition
[url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2017/09/07/nashville-make-bid-amazons-second-headquarters-50-000-jobs/641485001/]Nashville to make bid for Amazon.com headquarters, 50,000 jobs[/url]

Salt Lake City, UT
Phoenix, AZ
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX (Not As Likely As Dallas, IMO, same issues as Seattle and Cost of Living not far from Seattle's.. Being in Biz Friendly Texas is the Only Boon here, coupled with being a big tech city)
Kansas City, MO (6% State Tax Could Be Deal Breaker, But Fairly Biz Friendly State and One of Cheapest Metro areas in Country.. $90,000/yr salary goes a long long way here)

Minneapolis, MN/Chicago, IL (Affordable Major Metro Areas and Good Logistics, Horrible Weather and Neither are Tech-Centered Cities. Illinois has very liberal politics that could be turn-off to Libertarian-minded Bezos).

Raleigh-Durham Triangle, NC (Affordable to live, Business Friendly and Major Tech Hub)
Charlotte, NC (Same as Triangle.. Tech is rising in this city)

Atlanta, GA (Good Logistics, Biz Friendly, Conservative, Big Tech City)

Great analysis. I agree - he doesn't care a whit about employees. It's about the future and cold hard cash. A good joke - LA thinks it has a chance. A place companies are bolting from for good reason.

My bet is he'll either choose Atlanta or Dallas, which are the safe good long term bets. Or he'll do a darkhorse like Tampa./Memphis or Jackson Ms to make a statement to the world.

He can't go into the Rust Belt or the NE because everyone knows the future is in the south/south west. And he can't go to CA because it's worse than where he is now.

[6oo9]

$100,000 average salary for HQ2 employees can not afford good housing in many cities. Other cities are not attractive or too small. Dallas-Fort Worth area has no state income tax and can buy a lot more real estate comparably. Toyota USA just moved their HQ to DFW from CA this year for similar causes. How do people in Seattle feel about relocating to TX? Bezos lived in TX during his childhood.

[mhays25]

I doubt many longtime Seattleites would move to Texas. Of course Amazon is largely newcomers to the city, so who knows.

Anyone who was asked to move but didn't want to would have options. Seemingly every major tech company is trying to grow at an explosive pace here, which is limited only by their ability to recruit.