Pike Place Poobah
I’m writing this one from another Starbucks, but not just any Starbucks, I’m at numero uno Starbucks, right here in the Pike Place Market.
It’s a small store, no seating room at all, just a fairly narrow lane, filled with eager shoppers. There’s a good reason it’s small. This premier store opened in 1971, and they were just a coffee bean wholesaler. People came in, tried the beans, bought them, and left. No coffee was brewed here. Back then wireless meant that your phone wasn’t tapped. I see a broad international crowd in here.
There are lots of well known companies that got their start in Seattle. REI began here, and their flagship store is a must see event. I just walked past Sur La Table, a very busy place on Black Friday.
UPS got their start here many moons ago shortly after the turn of the century. Microsoft is rooted in nearby Redmond. Bill Gates and Paul Allen have had a huge affect on Seattle’s geography. Located in an old art deco hospital lies the Amazon.com complex, which overlooks Boeing field. I think the USA’s biggest export is Boeing airplanes. Not your typical gift item, but what a way to carpool.
I spoke with several shoestores, and they said business was as normal, as shoes are not typically purchased as a gift for others, and BF is normally associated with gift buying.
The Pike Place Market itself was booming.
Vendors said it was more of a typical busy Friday, nothing extraordinary for a BF. This place may seem touristy, but it’s always been a place for serious business. The vendors pay high rent for their spaces and need to sell their products. There’s a large and colorful lane of flower arrangements to walk by. There’s the produce stands,
and of course, there’s the seafood. We get a lot of sea creatures from Alaska, as Seattle has always been a big portal to the great Alaskan wilderness.
