Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
had also taken its toll. The entire area became a bowery for the destitute and a center
for prostitution and peep shows.
In the wake of the 1962 World's Fair, plans were drawn up to bulldoze the market
and build high-rise office and apartment buildings on this piece of prime downtown
real estate. Fortunately, public outcry prompted a voter's initiative to save the market.
Subsequently, the space was cleaned up and restructured, and it has become once again
the undeniable heart and soul of downtown; some 10 million people mill through the
market each year. Thanks to the unique management of the market, social-services pro-
grams and low-income housing mix with commerce, and the market has maintained its
gritty edge. These initiatives have prevented the area from ever sliding too far upmar-
ket. A market law prohibits chain stores or franchises from setting up shop and ensures
all businesses are locally owned. The one exception is, of course, Starbucks, which gets
away with its market location because it is the coffee giant's first outlet (it opened in
1971).
Orientation
If you're coming from downtown, simply walk down Pike St toward the waterfront;
you can't miss the huge
Public Market sign
etched against the horizon. Incidentally,
the sign and clock, installed in 1927, constituted one of the first pieces of outdoor neon
on the West Coast. From the top of Pike St and 1st Ave, stop and survey the bustle and
vitality. Walk down the cobblestone street, past perpetually gridlocked cars (don't even
think of driving down to Pike Pl) and, before walking into the market, stop and shake
the bronze snout of
Rachel the Market Pig
, the de facto mascot and presiding spirit of
the market. This life-size piggy bank, carved by Whidbey Island artist Georgia Gerber
and named after a real pig, collects about $10,000 each year. The funds are pumped
back into market social services. Nearby is the
information booth
(Pike St & 1st Ave)
,
which has maps of the market and information about Seattle in general. It also serves as
a ticket booth, selling discount tickets to various shows throughout the city.
Economy Market Building
Once a stable for merchants' horses, the Economy Market Building on the south side of
the market entrance has a wonderful Italian grocery store, DeLaurenti's - a great place
for any aficionado of Italian foods to browse and sample. There's also Tenzing Momo,
one of the oldest apothecaries on the West Coast, where you can pick up herbal remed-
ies, incense, oils and books. Tarot readings are available here on occasion. Look down
