Serving Factoria
Grow a neighborhood business in Factoria
Factoria pairs T-Mobile’s headquarters and a busy shopping district with international grocers, family restaurants and clinics that serve a diverse neighborhood. As a women’s business center for Factoria, WCWB helps women start and grow businesses with free one-on-one advising, practical classes and a community of women owners.
Part ofCity of Bellevue
CountyKing County
WCWB advisingFree, by phone or video
Our officeLacey, Washington
Where business happens
Business districts in Factoria
- The Marketplace at Factoria (Factoria Mall). A 43-acre, single-story shopping center that opened in 1977 and has about 370,000 sq ft of retail, anchored by T&T Supermarket, Amazon Fresh and Target, with roughly 6.1 million visits in 2024.
- Factoria Village and Factoria North Plaza. Smaller centers along Factoria Boulevard, including the 19-acre, QFC-anchored Factoria Village (1980), with restaurants, local services and professional offices. The neighborhood’s ethnic grocers also include Southgate Mart and Jing Jing Asian Market.
- Newport Corporate Center and the SE 36th/38th Street office area. Factoria’s tallest office buildings stand north of SE 38th Street, home to T-Mobile’s campus and AAA in One Newport. West of Factoria Boulevard is the 22-acre Factoria/Sterling Campus, with four office buildings and the AMC theater.
- Eastgate Plaza and Sunset Village (neighboring Eastgate). Two older neighborhood centers along I-90: Safeway-anchored Eastgate Plaza (1972) and Sunset Village (1964), whose small single-story buildings house mostly locally owned businesses, cafés and services such as Lil’ Jon Restaurant and Last Frontier Coffee.
Good to know in Factoria
- Factoria is part of Bellevue, so Bellevue’s business license and B&O tax rules apply. The city license is issued through FileLocal after you register with the state.
- Bellevue’s free Start Smart consultant can guide independent businesses through permitting before you lease one of Factoria’s older retail or office spaces.
- The City’s draft Factoria Neighborhood Area Plan proposes help for small businesses during redevelopment, a Factoria business district and small, affordable commercial spaces in new buildings. It is still a draft, so check its status with the city.
- Most customers arrive by car: Factoria Boulevard carries tens of thousands of cars a day, and the mall logged about 6.1 million visits in 2024.
Not sure what applies to you? An advisor can walk you through it.
Headquarters, shopping and a global neighborhood
Factoria is a 387-acre neighborhood and commercial district in south Bellevue, bounded by I-90 and I-405, that joined the city in 1993. It is one of Bellevue’s major job and retail centers: T-Mobile’s U.S. headquarters fills much of the Newport Corporate Center, AAA is headquartered in the One Newport building, and the Marketplace at Factoria (Factoria Mall) logged about 6.1 million visits in 2024. Census data count about 9,944 jobs in Factoria’s designated countywide center, and together with neighboring Eastgate the area is Bellevue’s third-largest employment area. Office vacancy along the I-90 corridor is about 42%, and the City is finishing a neighborhood plan to turn the car-oriented commercial core into a walkable mixed-use center.
Telecommunications headquarters
T-Mobile US has its corporate headquarters across much of the 28-acre Newport Corporate Center, where it occupies roughly 1.4 million sq ft. It is Bellevue’s second-largest employer, with about 7,800 employees in the city.
Corporate and professional offices
Factoria has 25 office buildings, 15 of them built in the 1970s and 1980s, along Factoria Boulevard and SE 36th and 38th Streets. Besides T-Mobile, AAA occupies the first three floors of the One Newport building, and Sterling Plaza I was renovated to Class A standard in 2024.
Regional and international retail
The Factoria Mall (about 370,000 sq ft, anchored by T&T Supermarket, Amazon Fresh and Target) and the QFC-anchored Factoria Village form the retail core. International grocers, Thai, Korean, Indian and Mediterranean restaurants, bubble tea cafés and bakeries serve residents and the daytime workforce.
Medical, dental and wellness services
The City notes a high concentration of dental clinics, medical offices, chiropractors, vision clinics and physical therapy practices, clustered along Factoria Boulevard and in mid-size office buildings.
Education, hotels and auto dealers in neighboring Eastgate
Bellevue College (about 100 acres and more than 20,000 students a year) sits just across I-90 in Eastgate. Eastgate also has one of Bellevue’s largest hotel clusters outside downtown, and its dealerships, such as Bellevue Nissan, Michael’s Toyota and Michael’s Subaru, contribute substantially to the city’s sales tax base.
Your women’s business center for Factoria
Whether you run a restaurant near the mall, a clinic on Factoria Boulevard or a business from home, here’s where WCWB fits in.
Free one-on-one advising
Shape your plan, check your numbers or prepare for a loan with an advisor, by phone or video, at no cost.
Plan for change
Factoria is planning for redevelopment. An advisor can help you weigh your lease and your options and plan to keep growing as the neighborhood changes.
Learn the fundamentals
Intro to Business is a free self-paced online course on business planning, legal requirements and funding.
Meet other women owners
INSPIRE, our women’s business conference each May, brings owners from across the region together for keynotes, sessions and networking.
More help in Factoria
Alongside WCWB, these Factoria organizations support local businesses. Each link opens their own website.
King County Library System: Newport Way Library
The closest KCLS branch, just east of Factoria at 14250 SE Newport Way. A KCLS card gives free access to business research tools such as Gale Business: Entrepreneurship and Data Axle Reference Solutions.
City of Bellevue Great Neighborhoods: Factoria (Engaging Bellevue)
Read the draft Factoria plan and its small business policies, and sign up for updates while it goes to the City Council.
City of Bellevue Small Business Consulting Services (‘Start Smart in Bellevue’)
Free pre-lease and permitting guidance from the City of Bellevue for independent businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees. Useful before you lease one of Factoria’s older retail or office spaces.
Bellevue College Entrepreneurship Certificate of Accomplishment
A 30-credit, roughly six-month certificate on launching a business and writing a startup business plan, with evening, weekend and online options, at the college’s main campus just across I-90 in Eastgate.
Bellevue Chamber
Bellevue’s citywide chamber, which covers Factoria: membership, networking, advocacy and small business workshops.
Questions from Factoria business owners
My business is in an older Factoria building that may be redeveloped. Can WCWB help me plan?
Yes. An advisor can help you understand your lease, budget for a move if you need one and plan ahead so redevelopment doesn’t catch you off guard.
I want to open a restaurant or bakery in Factoria. Where do I start?
Start with free advising. We can help with your startup costs, menu pricing and business plan, and Bellevue’s free Start Smart consultant can walk you through permits before you sign a lease.
Does WCWB have an office in Factoria?
No. We meet by phone and video, so we can work with you anywhere in Washington State. Our office is at 4220 6th Ave SE in Lacey.
Who can work with WCWB?
Anyone who is starting a business or growing a small to medium-sized one. We focus on women-identified business owners in Washington State, and our services are open to everyone.
Your Factoria business has a team behind it
Advising is free, by phone or video, with no up-front commitment.