A century after its founding in a Swedish fishing village, Grundéns is returning to its waterfront roots. The protective fishing gear company announced Nov. 10 that it will relocate its global headquarters to Pier 54 on Seattle’s central waterfront in April 2027.
The company has signed a long-term lease with Pier 54 LLC, an affiliate of the A.F. Gilmore Company, for the second floor of the historic working pier at 1001 Alaskan Way. The new headquarters will include office space, a working showroom, and a gathering space for fishermen, dealers, industry partners, and community members.
“Grundéns was built for people whose workplace is the water, so a working pier on the Seattle waterfront is the perfect place for us to call home,” said Andrew Gritzbaugh, CEO of Grundéns. “For a brand that started on a dock in 1926, it is hard to imagine a better place to begin our second century.”
Founded in 1926 in Grundsund, Sweden, Grundéns began when Carl A. Grundén developed waterproof oilskins for commercial fishermen working in the North Sea. Today, the company outfits commercial fishing crews from the Bering Sea to the East Coast, as well as recreational and fly anglers.
The move comes following a major redevelopment of Seattle’s waterfront, including the completion of the 20-acre Waterfront Park in September 2025. Pier 54, which has served as a working pier for more than a century, overlooks Elliott Bay and is located near Colman Dock, providing ferry access for employees commuting from the Kitsap Peninsula.
“Our community already lives on the waterfront, from the fleet and the ferries to the dealers and the people who outfit them,” said Mat Jackson, head of community and board member at Grundéns. “For years we have shown up for the waterfront from across the Sound. Now we get to be a neighbor.”
The company’s current Poulsbo, Wash., office will remain open through the transition, and no employees are being asked to relocate. Grundéns said its products, customer service, and warranty will remain unchanged.
The new headquarters will host seasonal sales meetings, dealer visits, and community events, with a public open house planned for spring 2027.
Grundéns will also be exhibiting at Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle Nov. 19-21, where the company will share more about its new waterfront headquarters with fishermen and industry partners ahead of next spring’s opening.
