Every Gift Tells a Story at Pike Place Market

Every Gift Tells a Story: Unwrapping the Meaning Behind Market Gifts

Behind our Market tables and storefronts lies stories of passion, tradition, and craftsmanship. Whether it’s handmade, thoughtfully created products or locally sourced specialties, you can count on finding a meaningful gift around every corner at Pike Place Market.

Read on to get to know a handful of our businesses who represent a legacy of excellence and honor cultural traditions during the holiday season and throughout the year.

At Marakesh Leather, legacy is intrinsically linked with their values. They’ve been in business over 50 years, handcrafting leather belts and other accessories. The quality of craftsmanship in their products draws back loyal returning customers, still proudly donning their belts often 20 or more years later.

What sets them apart is the countless unique designs created by their staff, offering everything from classic dress belts to Western style, Celtic, and floral motifs. For the playful eclectic wearer, or the classic dresser who values simplicity in lasting quality, there’s something for everyone.

Holiday Gift Features

This holiday season, they’re featuring two new colors in a earthy-toned olive green and rich deep navy blue. These unique and stylish colors are a rare novelty to come by in the world of leather belts. In keeping with the “Meet the Producer” tradition, the owners worked with another family-owned operation out of New York to source these full-grain leather hides from Milton-Sokol. Since starting their work together in 2022, they’ve grown a collaborative relationship that supports a continued passion for exceptional quality leather goods. When shopping the Market, you can count on pieces curated with care that ensures they’ll stand the test of time.

Stroll into Le Panier and you’ll be greeted with the warm aromas of a freshly baked taste of France. Gathering together around the table is a large part of everyday French life and holidays, and this bakery dedicates their lineup to embodying this tradition. Their bakers use classic French recipes and traditional techniques to craft the artisanal lineup that fills their cases each holiday season.

With over 40 years in the Market, their customers anchor many special holiday memories to the goodies picked up from the bakery. Whether it’s the longtime customer who has come in for decades to serve her family fresh brioche every Christmas morning, or the family that shops the Market each Christmas Eve for their family meal, gathering bread, fresh fish, and more to make grocery shopping a collective adventure.

Many have been coming in since they were young, and now bring in their own children to continue sharing the cherished favorites. Food is a love language shared by all, and breaking bread with loved ones is a custom that Le Panier values playing a part in year after year.

Holiday Specials to Look For

• Pain de Noël, a brioche loaf laden with cranberries, orange peel, almonds, golden raisins and walnuts
• Bûche de Noël, a traditional holiday cake made of sponge cake rolled with chocolate mousse and wrapped in ganache. NEW! Miniature versions filled with passion fruit and mango will be available this year for a smaller serving option.
• Candy Cane Macarons, a delectable classic with peppermint buttercream

Established in 1989, The Raven’s Nest has a background steeped in Market history. Matthew Steinbrueck, eldest son of Keep the Market champion Victor Steinbrueck, started the shop with a background as a certified gemologist and kept vestiges of the space’s former life as an antiques store. Vintage curiosities, art, and antiques broadened further into natural specimens and jewelry.

The torch has now been passed to the third-generation with Conrad Steinbrueck and his partner Madison taking over the store with a commitment to preserving its legacy. Their space is full of treasures from around the world, and also highlights an abundance of local artisans including jewelers and carvers. Their Native art collection is a special point of interest given the shop’s long history supporting Native makers.

Stop in to explore their extensive jewelry collection, featuring pieces from Conrad’s sister and talented designer Kirra Lien. Her organic, small-batch pieces are handcrafted with a distinct attention to detail through her metalwork and lapidary.

As another generational family business, Pure Food Fish was started over 100 years ago with owner Carlee’s great-grandfather Jack. Four generations later, they are continuing the commitment to serving as purveyors of Seattle’s finest seafood. From the freshest fish, to succulent crab, and savory smoked salmon, their shop is the perfect way to fill your table with a taste of the Pacific Northwest this holiday season.

Read more about the history of the “Cod Father” Sol Amon, a renowned figure in the Market community and Carlee’s grandfather. His legacy inspired Carlee and Isaac to start an entrepreneurial fund in his name. The Solomon Amon Fund is dedicated to supporting programs that ensure the stability of Market workers and pays forward the compassionate support that their grandfather embodied across the Market.

Stocking-Worthy Seafood

Don’t miss their world-famous Alderwood smoked salmon recipe that’s been perfected over four generations, resulting in a taste that’s truly exceptional. Gift boxes and samples are a great way to share local delicacies that keep well in the fridge to enjoy day after day.

Spoil your loved ones at holiday brunch this season, or send some holiday cheer nationwide with overnight shipping available anywhere in the continental U.S.!

As organic farmers, herbalists, and artisans, Moon Valley Organics looks to nature for solutions. Their personal care products use organic ingredients, prioritize plant-based packaging, and support regenerative farming. Through their apiary and farm, their mission-driven work nurtures pollinator habitats and embraces the principle of “grown, not made”.

For over 20 years, they’ve crafted products using their passion for sustainable living and herbalist expertise. Their flagship store at the Market offers their signature line of lotion bars, lip balms, hair care, and other natural salves for healing and soothing. Their mission is to create a brighter future through simple and accessible product formulas that are good for the body and good for the environment.

Gifts for Good

Their natural body care collections are perfect small gifts for filling stockings this holiday season, with gift set combos to treat them from head to toe. Shop soap, lotion, and lip care sets or spoil them with a soothing muscle salve or foot rub to enjoy the comforts of self-care this season.

Special Promo! When you purchase 4 lip balms OR any other 3 products, get a bonus lip balm free.

View our Full Holiday Guide Below!

View Holiday Guide