Then: Thriving Market, Vibrant Community
Then: Thriving Market, Vibrant Community
“The generations of immigrants who came to Seattle and built their lives and businesses here have been key to the Market’s success. Low costs, essential and diverse goods, and a welcoming community have built a thriving market that is a world-renowned destination.”
Learn More About This Time in Pike Place Market History
Pike Place Market is famous for some very successful companies that got their start here – Starbucks, Sur La Table, and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, to name a few. But small, local businesses comprise the majority of tenants at the Market, whether they are farmers, food retailers, or craftspeople. In fact, one of the Pike Place Market’s primary directives today is to “promote the survival and predominance of small shops, marginal businesses, thrift shops, arts and crafts, and other enterprises, activities, and services which are essential to the functioning of the Public Market.”
Today, thanks to historic district guidelines developed after the Market was saved in the early 1970s, businesses that already have locations outside the Market are not permitted to open a franchise within the Market – a rule that helps keep the Market authentic, local, and independent. Market business owners can expand to additional locations outside the Market, so long as they got their start at Pike Place Market.
The Market functions as a small business incubator, providing affordable rents, tailored leases, and hands-on support that allow small business owners to experiment, refine their approach, and build sustainable success.