Pike Place Market Ends Free Parking

Well, I’m a day late and a dollar short! Or actually $3 short…

I missed this article warning of impending changes at The Market.  I got the news when M called me on Saturday morning.  For the last six years the Market Parking Garages have had a great deal that I used on a regular basis.  Your first hour of market parking was free.  This was specifically geared towards non-tourists, like me, who actually come to the Market to shop.  One hour gives you enough time to make your way along the stalls, picking up your fruits and vegetables, seafood, bread, flowers, a few specialty items – whatever your heart desires – and get back to your car without having to pay for parking. 

I can’t tell you how many times that deal has influenced me to shop at the market.  There are times when I really only need one item for a party, but I’d go down there because I’d know I could get convenient, free parking.  I’ll still go on a regular basis for my "big shop" but I’ll have to think about those times when I need to go back – maybe because I forgot something, or maybe because what I wanted was a special order or maybe because I wanted something that couldn’t be found anywhere else. 

I’m actually lucky in that I’m a morning person, so I can still beat the charge by limiting my shopping to early on Sundays.  Street parking is free and plentiful at 8:30 am.  :-)  As for other times – that additional $3 suddenly makes that head of frisee a little too expensive.