Exit133

September 10, 2008 · Daniel Blue

DB: More Market

Recently I have found myself exploring the beautiful bit of Broadway between South 11th and 13th. With four restaurants, a tea shop and, some “galleries” the resulting pedestrian paradise is an excellent example of what an active perimeter can do for your block or neighborhood. Upon exiting the Mad Hat Tea Company headquarters I spied this little corral of ponies and my heart was warmed to the utmost temperature.

If you head up the stairs a touch from the OK Corral and pass the entrance to Fujiya Japanese Restaurant you will find yourself in a bit of a no-mans-land called “Court C Market”. Some empty offices and a parking garage seem to be the only use of this interesting cove of oversized sidewalks.

I will keep this short. Why do we not have a Pike Place style market year round here? It is semi covered, out of the space of flows, just up from the luncheon launch pad and already has the signage.

I got my start selling clothing at the Fremont Sunday Market in Seattle. Year round, every Sunday morning, the crafters and the florists and the thrifters and the food vendors find themselves jostling for booth space in what must be the number one community builder for their district. It creates jobs and commerce and BRINGS PEOPLE to their downtown from all over Seattle and, in my case, all over the Puget Sound. What made the Sunday market so cool was that it only cost $35 to have a booth. That meant that I only had to sell one garment to break even and get lunch.

We have a plethora of small vendors in this town. They have shown their support and have been supported by every festival I have attended this summer. The pedestrians are already in the area. Asking them to jump up a flight of stairs after lunch and check out some local wares doesn’t seem ridiculous. I’m tired of living in the only city in the world without an open market devoted to more than food. Food is good … and the success of the farmers market is a good sign for this sort of thing. But we are hip remember? Where the heck can a guy go in this town for a hemp wallet, a used shirt, the White Album and a Remington typewriter? Why should I have to rent a storefront on Pacific Ave. for $5000 a month to sell a few shirts every other week?

In a city that desires young interesting candidates to fill their condos and job pools, I cant think of a better way than filling our empty alleyways and unused potential with the kind of consistent fun a walk through bazaar provides. I do not suggest, however, that we host it on the weekend. Downtown is a ghost town on the weekend and ghosts don’t spend no money on no crafts.

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13 comments

  • crenshaw sepulveda September 10, 2008

    We had a very mini sort of Pike’s place market some many years ago in the space behind Fujiya’s. There was a bookstore, owned by Jeff Smith’s wife on Court C as well. For a while Court C was a happening place.

    Behind those green doors was part of the Tacoma Public Library’s temporary location on Broadway when the library was remodeled in the 80’s. Prior to that time the space (quite large) was used to store garden tools for the city.

    At 11th and Market Streets was once something known as the Crystal Market, it was a true farmer’s market with about 50 stalls of all manner of farm produce and products. It was torn down in the 70’s. You can see pictures of it on the Tacoma Public Library’s web site. Ever wonder why it is called Market Street?

  • A R Campbell September 10, 2008

    This is a great point, we DO need a market. As I watched all the condos go in around the St Helens area, I talked with Alan (Sanford & Sons) about the potential for the open front (and empty) parking garage to the North of his building. Remember the one with all the graffiti? Plenty of room for booths, great street access for setup, a block above a link stop. I can see that being a very walkable resource for the significant infill occurring in that neighborhood. I believe a location like this might be more viable as a starting point for a market. We’ve wanted one in the heart of St Helens for AGES, and I believe this might be a more realistic starting point just given the potential for native users in that area and for that matter, the potential tourists (heading over from the theatre district etc). Anyone interested in teaming up to actually do some legwork and fight for this one?

  • I'm for Change (for tacoma) September 10, 2008

    This is a great idea and for selfish reasons I like the idea of it being in Court C (not St Helens). During my travels going to the local bazaars/farmer markets is a great time. The vendors are generally friendlier and you can find out about local hot spots and events. This would have the added benefit of no language barrier. Part of the fun is always finding new and different stuff.

    On a side note – is the pony corral open to all comers? I’ve been parking mine solo here and there, but having a consistent and accepting spot would be nice.

  • coming around September 10, 2008

    There were indeed shops at Court C in the early 1970s — I seem to remember a bead shop and a shop that carried cigarette papers, etc. More recently, I enjoyed the Ark Deli (really good food).

  • Erik B. September 10, 2008

    I will keep this short. Why do we not have a Pike Place style market year round here? It is semi covered, out of the space of flows, just up from the luncheon launch pad and already has the signage.

    Yeah. You stumbled into the grave of a long ago dead market.

    There was the Ark. The Judicial Annex, and a law school before Seattle took both of them. Another failed attempt in Tacoma to get something to grow in a dead zone.

  • uoaaa181 September 11, 2008

    Love the idea!
    But if you want to get “a hemp wallet, a used shirt, the White Album and a Remington typewriter” now, there’s always that VERY large “antique” mall on Commerce/Broadway that has small booths w/ various new/used/antique items for sale. The place doesn’t seem to be well advertised and happening across it seems rare but it’s there and hosts a wide variety of goods.

  • Jesse September 11, 2008

    There’s near zero shopping in downtown compared to similar sized cities. Kill the suburban mall!!!

  • Mofo from the Hood September 11, 2008

    Mr.Blue’s hemp wallet comment brought to mind the building on the corner of South 9th and Broadway and Court C. In the bad old day’s of the early 1970’s that fairly new building was converted to house start- up businesses and the place resembled a mini-mini Freighthouse Square. There was a leather worker there from whom I bought handmade wallets and belts. There was a record shop called Penny Lane Records. There was a shoe store on the ground level facing Broadway. And there was the Court C coffee house with live music. There may have been hemp clothing sold in that building at the time; it would have been a likely setting. Hemp in Tacoma was plentiful and selling for $10.00 an ounce.

    The whole building conversion from an originally conservative clientel to a co-op style community center was one of those odd once in a lifetime unrepeatable events. That building as it is now looks pretty conservative again and I believe its current condition is the second remodel.

    Speaking of hemp wallets. Anybody else remember late 1960’s local head shops Central Concern on South 11th & Fawcett and The Asterisk on South 38th & Yakima? Tacoma’s local sources for smoking hardware and black light posters.

    I like too that Mr.Blue mentioned the White Album. I remember mowing neighborhood lawns to get enough money to buy it just as it hit the stores.

    Amusing story Mr.Blue. Hemp wallet? Okay, I’m going to reach into my record collection now and play Country Joe & The Fish, Electric Music for the Mind and Body, Side 1, cut 1, “Flying High.”

  • nanette colby September 13, 2008

    hey everybody we do have exactly what your looking for inside Sanford and Son.
    enter on commerce and you will find many new shops, a few still available to rent. my shop is on this level, re-fine clothier. i sell re-found classic clothing.
    on the middle floor you will find 20 shops, even one that sells hemp wallets and clothing too! the middle floor merchants have a great myspace page, check it out for more info.
    on the broadway side of the building we have our grand entrance a must see, antiques and stain glass oh and so much more. see the Sanford and Son myspace page, there is even a slide show.

  • Deidre Norris September 14, 2008

    Yes! Yes! Yes!

    Middle Floor Merchants at Sanford and Son Antiques is a PERFECT place to shop and start your business.

    I’ve been a shop owner there going on two years.

    My shop is called (one).
    I sell retro/midcentury home decor.

    I make garden art and turn trash into treasure.

    I love it and the community loves that there is such a FAB place to go and SHOP INDOORS.

    Plus, the Commerce entrance is right across the street from the link.

    GO LOCAL! SHOP LOCAL!

    It is hidden, but we try and advertise as much as we can.

    We have window space at the The Winthrop Hotel/Apts. on 9th and Commerce.

    We use these windows to advertise and rotate local artist.

    Go check them out!

    The rent is a great deal.

    For example. My rent is only $250 a month.

    You can’t beat that!!

    It ranges from $250-$700.

    Alan and Cherly Gorsuch just remodeled the inside and built more shops.

    They’re renting fast. Two just this week.

    So, you just have to go and check us out.

    Coming soon is a HUGE mural of The Middle Floor Merchants logo on the Commerce Entrance.

    You can call Cheryl and Alan with any questions at 253-272-0334.

    Please, come on down and check us out.

    743 Broadway and 744 Commerce.

    My name is Deidre Norris
    aka: Dumpster Diving Diva
    owner (one)
    253-779-9927
    myspace.com/onestore

  • Pegsterdtown September 14, 2008

    I remember back in the 70’s when we had a market downtown. There were photographers, bead store, some resturants. Alas, there was my favorite the Famous Amos Cookie Store. AHH the aroma of feshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Bring this back to downtown, the residents need and want it badly….

  • Jesse September 15, 2008

    In order…
    1. Bring in some people via condos.
    2. Broadway LID, Tacoma Ave. S. LID.
    3. Add Pike’s style market at Court-C or in the parking buildings by Sanford and Sons.
    4. Start building more condos.
    5. Add a streetcar or two.
    6. Donate Park Place North to a developer willing to build a four story urban mall. Build better parking sites.
    7. Tear down much of the block (one or two story buildings) between Park North and the park that’s over I-705. Make it all park.
    8. Watch retailers push out much of the section 8 housing in the area to other parts of town.

  • j September 15, 2008

    Sanford and Son already has a start on this. Go to the Farmers Market and offer to let them use the indoor auction space at Sanford’s on Thursdays during the winter season to keep it going year round and you can build on that.
    Mabye someone already suggested in above comments…there were too many to get through all.