Today in history: Seattle's Pike Place Market opens for business in 1907

An iconic Seattle landmark for both locals and tourists alike is turning 114 years old today: Pike Place Market.

One of the oldest continuously operated markets in the country, Pike Place Market has defined Seattle's shopping experience for over a century now. The market was born in 1907 as the result of public outcry over high food prices as the city was seeing a staggering increase in population at the turn of the century. 

To cut out wholesalers who upcharged for goods, a Seattle City Councilmember proposed the creation of a market where residents buy directly from farmers. The opening day was marked by vendors with "big wagon loads of fruits and vegetables," on the newly named Pike Street, according to the Aug. 17, 1907 issue of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

"The public market in Seattle has come about as a result of a great deal of agitation," wrote the P-I. "For several years the question has been discussed but until now no attempt has ever been made to actually put one into operation. The market here is largely in the way of an experiment, and assurance has been given by the city council that if successful a larger and more commodious location will be provided."

And the demand for produce among the bustling city dwellers was high: the farmers and producers who set up shop on this day 114 years ago reportedly sold out by lunchtime. Revelle called the opening "one of the greatest days in the history of Seattle."

Just two years after it opened, the market averaged 63 farmers a day and 300,000 visitors a month. The market also continued to expand to make room for more sellers: farmer's stalls were expanded in the early years followed by the opening of the Sanitary Market Building in 1910 and the Corner Market Building in 1912. By 1915, the market housed an average of 150 farmers per day.

Pike Place Market has faced destruction several times, including a large fire that gutted the Sanitary Market Building in 1941. The fire, which occurred just a week after the Pearl Harbor attack, was originally thought to be arson, although a cause was never determined. Ultimately, it cost $100,000 worth of damage.

"The blaze was so hot thousands of spectators had to be cleared as much as a block away on near-by streets," the P-I reported on Dec. 15, 1941. "Flames shot from every one of the windows of the upper floors of the three-story structure, which extends through the block from 1st Ave. to Pike Pl. between Pine and Pike St."

In the years that followed during World War II, the market lost many of its sellers due to the internment of Japanese Americans. Meat from the market's butchers was only rationed during the war.

Along with the massive fire, the market faced another threat of demolition. In 1963, the Seattle City Council proposed razing Pike Place Market with the hopes of receiving federal urban renewal funds. Under the plan, much of the market would have been demolished to make way for parking garages, high-rise apartment buildings, offices and a hotel. 

Opponents of the demolition formed a group called Friends of The Market. Led by architect Victor Steinbrueck, the group led a grassroots effort to preserve the market with fundraisers, concerts, buttons, shopping bags and more. After an eight-year battle, Pike Place Market was saved by Seattle voters through Initiative No. 1 on Nov. 2, 1971.

"A passion for preserving the traditions and history of the public market was the driving force for the Market advocates," said Kate Krafft, current president of Friends of the Market. "After repeated City Council failures, the Friends turned to a radical ballot measure that created a unique historic district and subsequently preserved an essential community composed of farmers, small specialty business owners, low-income and elderly residents."

Pike Place is also home to some of the city's quirkiest landmarks and tourist attractions including the Gum Wall in Post Alley, the fish market and its playful fishmongers, a giant bronze piggy bank named Rachel and the original Starbucks, which usually has a line spilling outside.

As one of the main attractions in the city, the market has even grown bigger in the last several years. The $74 million MarketFront expansion had its grand opening in 2017, adding more than 30,000 square feet and 47 new stalls.

The market is home to some historic restaurants that are still operating today, including The Athenian, Lowell's and Three Girl's Bakery. Other eateries inside have earned national acclaim: Filipino kitchenette Oriental Mart won the 2020 America's Classics Award from the James Beard Foundation.

However, other businesses have shuttered over the years. Seattle's Best Coffee closed in 2013 after 30 years in the market, taking its red neon coffee cup with it. A staple of the market for 40 years for magazines and newspapers, First and Pike News closed in late 2019 as demand for print journalism dwindled. Meat wholesaler Bavarian Meats also closed their family-run location in the market last year.

And like many other Seattle businesses, Pike Place has been forced to pivot and adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the market expanded outdoor eating areas through September to help boost business. Diners can now enjoy meals under the iconic clock and sign, on the old cobblestone street and on the MarketFront deck which offers unobstructed views of Puget Sound.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the market stands as a symbol of Seattle's gritty heritage and resilience.

Keep scrolling to take a look back at the Pike Place Market through the years.