Happy April Fools’ Day
Our iconic Public Market Center Clock & Sign is NOT changing. But it’s funny to imagine… right?
Now for a little history:
As Pike Place Market grew into the beloved shopping destination it is today, Market Manager Arthur Goodwin brought his love of theater and vaudeville into the Market’s aesthetic. Under his direction, the Market was reimagined with architectural details like coved ceilings, decorative columns, mounted light features, and overflowing rooftop planter boxes.
In 1937, a new roof was installed to connect the open plaza between Flower Row and the Outlook Hotel (now the LaSalle Building). That roof created the perfect platform for a brand new, three-story-tall neon sign.
That sign became the beloved Public Market Center Sign, designed by architect Andrew Willatsen, who also designed the Farmers Market neon sign at Pike Place and Pine Street.
The Public Market Center Clock & Sign was celebrated as one of the largest neon signs on the West Coast at the time of its installation, inspiring even more neon signage throughout the Market in the decades that followed.
Arthur Goodwin’s legacy continues today, more than a century later, through preserved architectural details in the arcade and, of course, our glowing collection of neon signs.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine the Market without it.
Want to learn more about Pike Place Market history?
Click below to explore our interactive timeline.