At noon on Thursday, October 30, hundreds of Market community members gathered at Rachel the Piggybank, wearing colorful costumes, and carrying instruments, picket signs, and small red and white flags.
Why did Market business owners, farmers, buskers, members of the Pike Market Senior Center, volunteers from the Kitchen, kids from the Preschool, doctors and patients of the Clinic, and residents participate in the world’s shortest parade on Pike Place? And why did hundreds of Market patrons dodge raindrops to watch this quirky parade march down the cobblestones?
[hr]
King County Executive Dow Constantine and Daisley Gordon, owner of Cafe Campagne, lead the Pike Up! Parade down the cobblestone.
The Pike Up! Parade and Flag Raising commemorated a historic moment for Pike Place Market: it was the official kickoff of the effort to raise the roof on the new Pike Place MarketFront. “Pike Up!” is our rallying cry—it’s the call to action to all of Seattle to Speak Up! Stand Up! and support the new MarketFront.
“I am thrilled to Pike Up!” said Uli Lengenberg, owner of Uli’s Famous Sausage and our Pike Up! Parade ringleader. “Growing the Market and investing in our future helps all of us. We have to support what we love.”
This is the first expansion of Seattle’s iconic public market in 40 years! The new Pike Place MarketFront will transform what is now a .75 acre surface parking lot on Western Avenue into a waterfront-facing side of Pike Place Market. This project is the result of a decades-long vision to complete the final piece of the Market Historic District.
The Market Foundation is leading the fundraising campaign to raise $9 million to complete the total $66 million funding for the MarketFront. True to the Charter of Pike Place Market, the MarketFront will be more of the Market we love: more space for farmers and small businesses, 40 new units of low-income senior housing, new public art installations, and a Neighborhood Center to expand social services and meet the needs of our downtown community. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2015 and to be complete by 2017.
[hr]
The biggest announcement of the day came from Executive Director of The Market Foundation, Lillian Hochstein:
For the first time in 30 years, thousands of Market supporters have the opportunity to engrave a name onto the path of Piggybank Hoofprints or personalize a Market Charm that will dance and shine on the railings of the new MarketFront, overlooking Puget Sound. Together, we will raise the roof on the new MarketFront.
[hr]
Thanks to all who came out to the Pike Up! Parade
View photos from the Pike Up! Parade on our Facebook page: Facebook.com/MktFoundation
Pike Up! Parade in the news:
–Photos: Raising the Actual Roof of Pike Place Market – Seattle Refined, October, 2014
–SIC 2014: Pike Up! Your chance to be part of the new Pike Place Waterfront Entrance – Comics Grinder, October, 2014
–Pike Place Market Kicks off MarketFront campaign on Thursday – Puget Sound Business Journal, October, 2014