Pike Place Fish Market facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Seafood |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Headquarters | 86 Pike Place Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Owners | Jaison Scott, Ryan Reese, Samuel Samson, Anders Miller |
The Pike Place Fish Market is a famous outdoor fish market. You can find it in Seattle, Washington, USA. It's part of the bigger Pike Place Market. This market opened way back in 1930. It's super well-known because the people who sell fish there, called fishmongers, throw the fish! They toss it to each other before wrapping it up for customers.
In 1986, the market was almost out of business. But then, they started new fun things like throwing fish and playing games with customers. This made them famous on TV and in the news. Today, the Pike Place Fish Market is a popular place for tourists. Up to 10,000 people visit it every day!
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History of the Fish Market
In 1965, a man named John Yokoyama bought the Pike Place Fish Market. He used to work there. He wanted to earn enough money to pay for his new car. At first, not many people outside Seattle knew about the market.
Becoming World Famous
In 1986, John and his team met with a business coach. The market was almost going bankrupt. The coach, Jim Bergquist, was helping them find ways to save the business. During the meeting, an employee had a great idea. They decided not just to save the business, but to make it "world famous"!
They came up with ideas like throwing fish and playing games with customers. They also decided that the staff should always enjoy their work. This way, customers would have fun too. John Yokoyama later said, "We took a stand that we were going to become world famous. We just said it and it became so."
Rachel the Piggy Bank
A bronze piggy bank sculpture, nicknamed "Rachel," was made in 1986. It was created by artist Georgia Gerber. Rachel is a popular symbol of the market. She collects about $10,000 each year. This money helps people in low-income areas get housing and other services.
Gaining National Attention
In 1990, the Goodwill Games were held in Seattle. News reporters visited the Pike Place Market. They saw the fish market and its fun performances. They filmed the fishmongers in action. Soon after, the market appeared on the TV show Good Morning America. This led to many film crews visiting and stories in magazines.
Today, the fishmongers perform for thousands of visitors every day in the summer. Another fun part is the monkfish. Sometimes, they make it "snap" at customers using a hidden string! The market's success comes from its amazing employees and their positive attitudes. The staff even give motivational speeches at schools and businesses. They have been featured in many motivational books.
In 1991, CNN said the Pike Place Fish Market was one of the three most fun places to work in America. In 2018, four of its former employees bought the market.
Fish Throwing Tradition
The Pike Place Fish Market is very famous for its tradition of throwing fish. This happens when customers order fish. Here's how it usually works:
A customer orders a fish. The fishmongers, wearing orange rubber overalls and boots, shout out the order. All the other staff loudly shout the order back. Then, the first fishmonger throws the customer's fish behind the counter. Another staff member catches it to wrap it up.
The loud shouting of fish orders started as a joke on one employee. But customers loved it so much that it became a tradition! While working, the staff constantly yell to each other. They also chant together while throwing the fish. Sometimes, they throw a foam fish into the crowd to surprise people. They might even pick a customer to join in the fish toss! You'll see a sign near the market that says, "Caution: Low Flying Fish."
