Amazon's Bezos Names HQ2 Decision Date For Chicago

CHICAGO, IL — Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos Thursday didn't say whether Chicago (or any other city) will be the home of the company's second headquarters, but he did give a hint as to when he could announce the online retailer's big decision this week.

Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, was in DC to attend a dinner marking The Economic Club of Washington, D.C.'s 32nd anniversary. When asked when he'll announce a decision on HQ2's site, the billionaire said it would come "before the end of the year," WTOP reports.

Chicago officials have spent considerable time and energy — not to mention recruiting a star from one of Bezos' favorite TV and movie franchises to narrate a video promoting the city — trying to lure the online giant to Illinois.

In March, Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled a promo narrated by "Star Trek" star William Shatner himself in the hopes of wooing Bezos, who loves the Star Trek franchise so much that he even made a cameo appearance as an alien Starfleet official in Paramount Picture's "Star Trek Beyond." In 2014, Bezos nominated Shatner and fellow Star Trek stars Patrick Stewart and George Takei for the Ice Bucket Challenge.

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Bovada released its list of odds for the 20 finalists to get Amazon's 2nd HQ on Aug. 24, and Chicago was just about smack in the middle of the list with odds of +4000. Northern Virginia topped the list, followed by Washington, D.C.; Austin, Texas; Boston; Toronto and Atlanta.

Though Emanuel has been vocal and pushing for Amazon to come to the Windy City, it's unclear what impact his recent announcement that he will not seek re-election will have on Chicago's chances.

"Emanuel is known for being an aggressive pitchman, often picking up the phone himself to call CEOs and tell them why they should consider Chicago," the Chicago Tribune said last month.

PHOTO: The Amazon logo is projected onto a screen at a press conference. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Deb Belt, Patch National Staff, contributed to this article