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Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market, which opened in 1907, is a place of business for many small merchants and a popular tourist destination. Located in the downtown area, it occupies over 9 acres (36,000 m²). The Market is bounded by First Avenue to the east, Western Avenue to the west, Virginia Street to the north, and, to the south, a line drawn from First to Western Avenues halfway between Pike Street and Union Street. It is named after its central street, Pike Place, which runs northwest from Pike Street to Virginia Street.
The Market is built on the edge of a steep hill. It has several lower levels below the main level, featuring a variety of unique shops. Antique dealers, comic book sellers, and small family-owned restaurants are joined by one of the few remaining head shops in Seattle. The upper street level features fishmongers, fresh produce stands, and craft stalls operating in the covered arcades. Local farmers sell year-round in the arcades from tables they rent on a daily basis. Ample parking facilities are available in the area, which is also accessible to downtown shopping and waterfront amusements.
The Pike Place Market is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
History
Pike Place Market originally opened for business on August 17, 1907. It was operated from wagons on a boardwalk adjacent to the Leland Hotel. After an enthusiastic response from local shoppers, the first building at the Market was opened in late 1907.
In 1941, more than two-thirds of the stalls in Pike Place Market were owned by Japanese-Americans. Following Executive Order 9066, all Americans of Japanese ancestry in the "exclusion zone" of western Washington, western Oregon, California, and southern Arizona were interned in camps. Their property, including any stalls at Pike Place, was confiscated and sold.
In 1963, a proposal was floated to demolish Pike Place Market and replace it with Pike Plaza, which would include a hotel, an apartment building, four office buildings, a hockey arena, and a parking garage. This was supported by the mayor, many on the city council, and a number of market property owners. However, there was significant community opposition, and an initiative was passed on November 2, 1971 that created a historic preservation zone. The Pike Place Market Public Development Authority was created and the market buildings were brought into public ownership.
Victor Steinbrueck Park, just northwest of the market, was named in 1985 after the architect who was instrumental in the market's preservation.
Major Attractions
One of the Market's major attractions is Pike Place Fish, where employees throw fish to each other rather than passing them by hand. (The "flying fish" are so famous that they appeared in an episode of the television sitcom Frasier that was shot on location in Seattle, and have been featured on The Learning Channel.) Pike Place Fish Market employees have committed themselves to becoming "world famous."
Starbucks Coffee was founded at Pike Place Market in 1971. The first store is still operating a block north of its original location. The sign outside this branch, unlike others, features a bare-breasted siren. It also features a large pig statue covered in roasted coffee beans.
References
External links
- Official site
- Pike Place Fish
- Market Ghost Tours
- Pike Place Market: Thumbnail History
- Vote No on Initiative 1
- Movies that filmed at Pike Place Market
- Virtual Tour inside market
- The History of Pike Place Market Buskers Project
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Markets in the United States | Seattle landmarks | Busking venues | Registered Historic Places in Washington
"Pike Place Market"