Pike Market, Seattle

Apart from the Space Needle (http://spaceneedle.com), Pike Place Market (http://pikeplacemarket.org) stands as the iconic landmark for Seattle, if not the entire Puget Sound region. From flying fish (http://pikeplacefish.com) to the “Pork’n Beans” pig statue, named Rachel (http://bitly.com/awnJKN), the market is a diverse collective of commerce from around the Emerald city, inspired by virtually every culture. Found at the heart of the waterfront, the Pike Market neighborhood is a parallelogram of pleasure—contained between Lenora Street, 2nd Avenue, Union Street and the Seattle Waterfront.

History

Having opened on August 17, 1917, primarily as a farmers produce market, Pike Place has seen a number of threats to its existence. However, in the 1980s a nonprofit group, the Pike Place Market Foundation was formed by the PDA (Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority - http://bitly.com/d9rYhq). The PDA has been instrumental in preserving social and economic order in and around the market. The first Starbucks Coffee (http://starbucks.com) store, having opened in 1971, located to within one block of the market in 1977. Entertainers of all sorts descend upon the market daily, having done so since the 1960s. The fishmongers, of course, with their reputation for chucking Salmon and other varieties when purchased. This technique is not native to the fishmongers, as they used to walk to the fish table to retrieve the salmon for each order. More or less, it became an act of efficiency that gradually birthed its own trademark.

Housing/Demographics/Culture

Pike Place Market is home to around 500 people, with around 90%, interestingly, being low-income seniors. A senior center exists to serve around 900 people with a variety of helpful programs. A few other low-income services exist around the neighborhood to assist children and families around the city. Much of the Market’s culture revolves around tourism, with thousands passing through each year, giving it a reputation of its own. Downtown professionals find pleasure in exploring the variety of restaurants, many with expedient service—a must with short, corporate lunch hours.

Restaurants, Pubs and Coffee Houses

The sheer volume of people filling the neighborhood (vendors, tourists and corporate professionals) makes it a goldmine to own a food or drink service. Restaurants are found around almost every corner, with some being difficult to locate. One such unassuming place is The Pink Door (http://thepinkdoor.net) in Post Alley. A homespun Italian-American “netherworld”, even featuring a trapeze artist. Several other notable restaurants: Etta’s (http://bitly.com/cNVwMa) - The classic “Market Brunch”, Virginia Inn Restaurant and Bar (http://virginiainnseattle.com) - A casual bistro, Post Restaurant & Lounge (http://postinthemarket.com) - A romantic atmosphere catering to a wide audience, Campagne (http://campagnerestaurant.com) - Southern France-based cuisine, Steelhead Diner (http://steelheaddiner.com) - Casual atmosphere with chef Kevin Davis’ cuisine, Matt’s in the Market (http://mattsinthemarket.com) - Gourmet food with a view, Alibi Room (http://seattlealibi.com) - Cocktail lounge featuring seafood and pizza dishes, and Pan Africa Restaurant and Bar (http://panafricamarket.com) - Delicious African dishes.

The Pub scene at Pike’s Market is also strong, featuring: Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub (http://kellsirish.com/seattle), The Pike Brewery (http://pikebrewing.com) - Family owned brewing company, and The Showbox (http://showboxonline.com/market) - Hosting great independent music with the intimate Green Room lounge.

Coffee has its roots here with Starbuck’s first store (http://bitly.com/9DwA5W), which is not the original location, but close to it, nonetheless. Not a lot of other cafes exist around the market. Here’s a brief list: Seattle’s Best Coffee (http://seattlesbest.com), Cafe D’arte (http://caffedarte.com) - Italian traditional artisan coffee, Seattle Coffee Works (http://seattlecoffeeworks.com) - Family-based store that began in 2006, Caffe Ladro (http://caffeladro.com), and Tully’s Coffee (http://tullys.com).

Shopping and other Amenities

This, other than the restaurants, is where the Market shines. The lined daystalls, filled with products ranging from rings to flowers to clothing, bring an indoor-outdoor shopping experience much like that of a third world country. Warm weather brings additional vendors to set up shop along Pike Place. In addition to the daystall merchandise, several more-established shops can be found inside the Market building. Samples of other stores around the Market are: Savor Seattle Food Tours (http://savorseattletours.com) - Sample the multiple tastes around the city, Nordstrom Rack (http://nordstrom.com), Shoefly (http://shoefly.com) - Hot selection of shoes for men and women, Pike & Western Wine Merchants (http://pikeandwestern.com) - Find that perfect wine for any occasion, Alhambra (http://alhambranet.com) - Women’s clothing and accessories, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese (http://beechershandmadecheese.com), Dragon’s Toy Box (http://dragonstoybox.net) - Educational and other high quality toys from around the world, Seattle Antiques Market (http://seattleantiquesmarket.com) and the Chocolate Box (http://sschocolatebox.com).

Schools and Recreation Facilities

Schools are not that prevalent in Pike’s Market, consisting mainly of child care facilities. However, several recreation options await. Here are a couple: Steinbrueck Native Gallery (http://steinbruecknativegallery.com) - Indigenous art of the Northwest coast and the Market Theater (http://unexpectedproductions.org). A great social green space is Victor Steinbrueck Park (http://bitly.com/9dimqP), north of the market. A popular hangout during warm months, crowded with teenagers, business people and couples—even featuring free WiFi. Another great “natural” area is Waterfront Park (http://bitly.com/9bXImm) - filling the area between piers 57 to 59. The Seattle Aquarium (http://seattleaquarium.org) is a fabulous place to discover the wonders of marine life in the Northwest and abroad.

Medical Facilities

The lack of a major hospital within Pike Market is no cause for concern—the other side of Interstate 5, just blocks away, features Virginia Mason (http://virginiamason.org), Swedish (http://swedish.org), and Harborview (http://bitly.com/dhPLZL) medical centers. There is only a handful of medical and dental offices exist within the Market’s neighborhood. Here is a sampling: Pike Market Medical Clinic (http://neighborcare.org), The Seattle Integrative Center (http://seattleic.com) - Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Ageless Acupuncture (http://agelessacupuncture.org), and Pike Place Dental (http://pikeplacedental.com) - Holistic Dentistry.

Housing for Seniors

As mentioned at the beginning of this review, hundreds of low-income seniors call Pike Place Market home, with the majority residing at the Pike Market Senior Center (http://pikemarketseniorcenter.org). The Downtown Food Bank (http://bitly.com/aRQpeD) is also located here since many of its patrons are over 50 years of age.

Access

Those residents with careers located in downtown Seattle can hit the snooze button multiple times; getting to the office is a cinch. The Financial District’s distance from the Market could almost be measured in feet, so no vehicle required if work is located in one of the high rises. Commuting to Boeing (http://boeing.com) in South Seattle will have more of a challenge, though still possible without a car. When trying to reach the Boeing site in Everett or crossing Lake Washington for jobs on the East side, this will require much more patience. The easiest way to access I-5 South is via Howell Street. To head north, Olive Way is ideal. Highway 99 is a great alternative when the Interstate is bogged down. The bus and light rail tunnels are just five blocks east, making public transit transportation the logical choice around the city.

Summary

Whether it’s flying fish, street musicians, the original Starbuck’s store, exotic cuisine, or just a great tourist spot—Pike Place Market delivers. Walk the market and the surrounding streets, observing the wide range of visitors to Seattle; let this be a vivid testimony of the value and cultural breadth of this Northwest metropolitan area.

The Pike Place Market is a historic area that runs like a veritable, upscale fair every day. The market looks out Southwest toward Elliott Bay and sets the scene for the seaside soiree. It’s not easy to pick out and explain every building, vendor, or exhibit because there’s a lot going on, but also because it’s hard for one to make a distinction about where the market actually ends when they’re on scene. To that extent, I urge the interested reader to visit the Pike Place Market website at http://pikeplacemarket.org. Among the attractions that you’ve got to see are City Fish (the iconic fish market that has had any number of articles and media appearances, including their own morale business video—but don’t expect fish to just be flying unless you buy something), fresh produce and craft stalls in the main arcade and a comic book store and magic shop in the underground levels. Maybe the best thing about the market is also the cheapest—to simply go people watching.

The residencies in the area are in the urban setting, and as such as limited to apartments and condos. Some are dedicated to low-income families, like those adjacent to Cliff House. Other big-deal attraction in the area are the Moore Theatre (Seattle’s oldest) and The Seattle Aquarium.

Many tourists' favorite spot in the city, Pike Place Market is a top shopping destination for locals and visitors alike. One of the oldest public farmers' markets in the United States, Pike Market is over a hundred years old, and operates every day of the year. At Pike Market, you'll find fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables, bouquets of flowers, handmade crafts, and much more. Pike Place Market is known for fish vendors who throw the fish back and forth, as well as street entertainers performing near the shopping stalls. Pike Place Market is also home to the very first Starbucks and dozens of cafes and restaurants.

Pike Place overlooks the waterfront of Elliott Bay and is in the heart of downtown. Besides plenty of businesses, Pike Place Market is also home to Victor Steinbrueck Park, a beautiful waterfront park that provides a welcome respite from the busy shopping areas nearby. Whether you're a local or a tourist, make a whole day of your trip to Pike Market. Though it gets busy on the weekends and any sunny summer day, it is well worth fighting the crowds. You'll find Pike Market on Pike Street along the watefront. Though best known as an open-air shopping center, there are also several buildings with unique boutiques and shops built into the very steep hillside.

This is the heart of Seattle and the number one tourist site in the area, attracting frenzied crowds of visitors and locals. The oldest continually operating farmer's market in the country, Pike Place features fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, and arts and crafts as far as the eye can see.

Abundant restaurants in the area include Maximilien in the Market and Lowell's. Shops offer goods from around the world, but you really shouldn't barter - although some do. Bring some change as there are always street musicians singing for their supper.

The Market is built on the edge of a steep hill, and consists of several lower levels located below the main level. Each level features a variety of unique and artsy shops. Antique dealers, comic book sellers, and small family-owned restaurants all populate the area. There is even one of the few remaining head shops left in Seattle. The upper street level contains fishmongers, fresh produce stands and craft stalls operating in the covered arcades.

One of the Market's major attractions is Pike Place Fish Market, where employees throw three-foot salmon and other fish to each other rather than passing them by hand. When a customer orders a fish, an employee at the Fish Market's ice-covered fish table picks up the fish and hurls it over the countertop, where another employee catches it and preps it for sale. This is worth seeing!