Letter: Anyone Else Think ‘Pine Place Market’ for 75 Pine?

Maybe it’s just me, maybe other ex-Seattle-ites that have found a home in New Canaan may agree with me. Then again, maybe some won’t.

However, after reading Michael Dinan’s recent article about the future of 75 Pine Street (the former NC Cleaner’s building next to Zumbach’ss Coffee) I can’t help but think Grand Central market is the wrong theme for this development. The article instantly made me think about other “artisanal markets I’ve been to as I try to understand the developer’s vision, which I am very excited about.

One market that continues to come to mind, and one that I would visit quite often when I lived in Seattle, is the world famous Pike Place Market. For those who haven’t been, Pike Place is the ultimate artisanal market. Whether it’s fish, cheese, wine, fruit, funny dinner pastries from eastern Europe (i.e. PIroshky Piroshky) you can find it there. It’s where Starbucks got its start when it was a small on-site roaster/coffee shop like our beloved Zumbach’s.

What East Coaster’s may not be aware of, and what I find to be of funny coincidence, is that the Pike Place market actually rests between two main Seattle streets. Pike street, clearly the street the market is named after, and Pine Street. The fact that Pine is the other side of that world-famous market, I’m immediately thinking there is some symbolism here that must be acknowledged. After all, wouldn’t it be exciting to establish our own version of the Pike Place Market?

Another funny and symbolic reason to go with the name Pine Place Market is that when you consider the location of Pike and Pine Street relative to the market and the market’s name, it makes sense that our East Coast replica should be named after Pine Street.

Now where does that come from? Specifically, as you stand facing the famous Public Market sign in Seattle, to your left would be Pike Street and to your right Pine. The city/market chose the name of the left street Pike. Linearly, that coincides (most likely coincidentally) with how we view West and East directionally. Perhaps there is a subconscious West Coast preference to the left so to speak (not being political here). Therefore, from an East Coast perspective, particularly being associated as the right (again not political) side of West East, it makes sense that our East Coast equivalent should take it’s name from the right most street of the world famous market, which would be Pine.

OK, so this is all a bit of a stretch. However, let me pose another question: Why try and replicate Grand Central in a town like New Canaan? Is that really what the terminal is about—artisanal eating? Are we anticipating a Shake Shack coming into New Canaan? To me what the developer is trying to accomplish is more relate-able to the Pike Place Market concept. In addition, consider the fact that so many of our residents take the train in and out of Grand Central every day.

Grand Central is hustle and hassle for so many of our citizens. It stands between us and our homes five days a week. It’s so grueling that we sometimes need to indulge in a bar car to make it through the day. Therefore, why would we want to be reminded of that reality on the weekend? It’s like saying I’m going to put a store in town that’s an exact replica of your office. Who would want to visit that on the weekend? From a marketing standpoint, I think a Pike Place theme is a no brainer (I’m don’t know marketing so don’t beat me up for saying that, or for using the term ‘no brainer’).

Those who have been to Seattle generally have fond memories of this beautiful classic market overlooking the Puget Sound. Those who want to go to Seattle look forward to visiting it. Yes, it’s been called a tourist trap, but the reality is that many Seattle people really shop there, they just know not to go on a weekend afternoon, especially if the weather is half-way decent.

Ultimately, I think Seattle’s market is the right theme for this development. And with added coincidence of being located on a street named ‘Pine Street’ the coincidence/symbolism is hard for an ex Seattle-ite like me to ignore. Who knows, with a name like Pine Place Market maybe we can convince the coveted Piroshky people to set up their East Coast shop here?

—Paul Spencer, New Canaan