I love markets. They have an energy that I find invigorating.
A good market draws me in, and then moves me along, from one sight to another.
It will also provide a composition of sounds that grab my attention as I pass
along. A good food market will add the aromas of spices and cooked food. When I
get to the end of a good market, I am disappointed and want to head back in and
start again, because I feel like there is always something that I have missed.
Pike Place Market, in Seattle, is an excellent market.
Pike Place Market is a collection of buildings overlooking
Elliot Bay, just north of Downtown Seattle. The buildings stretch 4 block along
Pike Place, from Union to Virginia Street. Opened in 1907, the Public Market
was created to give farmers direct access to consumers, without having to sell
their produce through wholesalers. The main arcade, west of Pike Place, was
mainly a place for produce and flower vendors. That is still true today.
By Seattle Municipal Archives (Flickr: Pike Place Market, circa 1922) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
Pike Place today |
When I visit the Pike Place Market, I prefer to start at the
north end of the Main Arcade, between Stewart and Virginia streets. This is
home to the many flower vendors. My reason is that this entrance is the
furthest away from the “big draws” of Pike Place Fish Market and the Daily
Dozen Doughnut shop, but more on them later. I would rather start at the
(slightly) less crowded side of the market. As I walk down the aisle I can stop
and enjoy the displays of flowers. The colors are beautiful, and the aromas wonderful .
When I get to the Joe Desimone Bridge I turn to the right and
encounter the many craftspeople who sell their wares in the market. There are
t-shirts, jewelry, ceramics, metal and leather goods. Crossing the bridge I
arrive at the newest addition to Pike Place Market – Market Front. Built on the
west side of Western Ave, this $74 million complex includes a large open-air
pavilion for vendors, and a large plaza, all built on top of the Producer’s
Hall, home to artisanal purveyors of beer, food, baked goods, fish and
chocolate.
Market Front Plaza |
Heading back to the Arcade, I continue South. I have now
entered the land of fruit and vegetables. Stand after stand offer the beautiful
and tasty produce grown on local farms. I also find butcher shops, spice stands
and fish mongers. If you are really hungry there are several restaurants and
prepared food stands in this section.
Buskers at the market |
The south end of the Arcade is home to the most famous shops
in the market. First is the Pike Place Fish Market. Here selling fish is part
sport and part comedy show. Founded in 1930, the employees of Pike Place Fish
Market are known for throwing the fish that their customers buy. The crowd
grows until someone steps forward to order some fish. While waiting for a
customer, the staff have many gags that they might pull on the crowd, from a
fish on a string to startle passers-by, to getting members of the crowd to take
pictures with different fish. But the real action takes place when someone
places an order and picks out a fish to fillet. The whole fish is picked up and
tossed to a waiting staff member behind the counter to be cut and wrapped.
Meanwhile the entire staff yell out the order at the top of their lungs. All in
all, everyone has a good time.
Catch of the day |
Around the corner from the Pike Place Fish Market is Daily
Dozen Doughnuts. These are considered to be the best doughnuts in the market.
They are certainly the freshest. They are made right in front of the crowd
waiting for them, and the store often can’t keep up with demand, causing a
longish line, but the doughnuts are well worth the wait.
To the east and south of the Main Arcade are the Sanitary
Market, so named because horses were not allowed into the building, the Corner
Market and the Economy Market. Today these buildings host many stores, some
food related, some not, and also many restaurants.
No trip to the Pike Place Market would be complete without a
stop at the “gum wall.” Walk down to Post Alley, and you will encounter one of
the “5 germiest” tourist attractions in the world. While it was completely
cleaned in 2015, the collection of gum is growing again. Come and leave your
contribution, and take a picture. It sure is colorful and gross.
As I said, the Pike Place Market is excellent. It has
something for everyone. Come and enjoy.
This place is fascinating and a great place to people watch. But if you are like me and prefer staying away from crowds, go early, check it all out first and then go back to do your shopping. And then get out well before noon. AMD
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