Square to lease Uptown Station building in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - Square, Inc. has signed a lease for the entire office space in the iconic Uptown Station building in Oakland.

The building is a 1920s-era former department store located at 1955 Broadway. The 356,000-square-foot, eight-story building has a multi-story atrium lobby and 35,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. 

"We're excited to join the Oakland community as a partner, an advocate, a neighbor, and a customer of local businesses," said Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square. "As we continue to grow, we want to support our employees wherever they are so they can work and invest in the communities in which they live."

Square plans to partner with the community of Oakland, and is working on a plan to create a supportive environment for local businesses and entrepreneurs. In lieu of building a large-scale corporate cafeteria Square plans to convert Uptown Station's first-floor into a public marketplace featuring a variety of local restaurants and retailers.

"Oakland is committed to attracting businesses whose values align with our community, whose workforce reflects our inclusivity, and whose greatest priority is the long-term prosperity of every Oakland resident. With their proven commitment to empowering new and local entrepreneurs, I believe Square can be that company," said Mayor Libby Schaaf. 

Square anticipates it will begin taking occupancy of Uptown Station in the fourth quarter of 2019 and plans to maintain a significant presence in San Francisco within its current office at 1455 Market Street.