THE LOCATION
1499 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
THE HISTORY
The Seattle City Council would pass an ordinance in 1907 to turn a section of Pike Place street into a large public market for farmers to sell their produce and, after great success, expansion and new construction would occur to compensate a growing number of sellers. [1] Despite this success, however, worsening racial injustices in Seattle would hinder the activities here: Japanese immigrants had become prolific small-scale farmers who sold produce at more affordable prices, facing push-back from white citizen farmers who called to make the market “whites only”. [2]
After some opposition, Japanese farmers were permitted to sell here again, albeit from the least desirable stalls in the back of the market, although societal issues with racism would rear their ugly head once more: after the attack at Pearl Harbor in 1941, internment camps for Japanese immigrants would spring up across the nation, “forcing the evacuation of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry to ‘war relocation camps’…” [3] As a result, business at the market would dwindle with further help from the rise of the supermarket and its modernity and bright indoor lighting, leaving the market at Pike Place street to slowly ease towards disrepair and abandonment. [2]
By the 1960’s and 1970’s, considerations to demolish and re-vamp the market were put on the table, aiming to convert the space into use for apartments, office towers, parking, and creating a new, smaller market, sparking public outcries who instead called for the preservation of the market and its past. [2] A group known as “Friends of the Market” would form, protecting the core of the market by creating a historical district around it and channeling funds to revitalize, creating and maintaining the thriving Pike Place Market we know today. [2]
GHOST ALLEY ESPRESSO
Over the years, business owners and visitors alike would experience a host of unexplainable occurrences at the market—this is no surprise, bearing in mind the markets long history and, as is the nature of life, any number of events and deaths which occurred through the years: deaths from disease, murder, and natural causes were present, and may attribute to haunted happenings.
Local Mercedes Yaeger would catch wind of such stories, developing a passion for researching the markets history and, subsequently, its spookier side, “pouring over historical records, mortuary and death records, and paranormal investigations.” [4] In 2003, Mercedes would funnel her knowledge and experiences into a new business endeavor, Market Ghost Tours, who shared this aspect of the markets history with paid attendees. [5]
In 2012, coinciding with another passion of hers—a love of coffee roasting—Mercedes would open her own brick and mortar named Market Ghost Tours & Espresso (later renamed to Ghost Alley Espresso) from a former Gentlemen’s Room in Post Alley on the underside of the market. [5] (You can see clips of this process here.)
With a growing focus on the coffee side of things, the ghost tours would be transferred in 2016 to another neighboring company, Unexpected Productions Market Theater, but they appear to have ceased these tours entirely. Furthermore, Mercedes would sell Ghost Alley Espresso in 2018 to Michael Buchwald and Krista Lorio who continued to serve much of the markets approximate 10 million annual visitors. [5, 6] (Here is a fun video from 2011 showcasing some of what Market Ghost Tours once entailed.)
Although her involvement in the markets haunted happenings has slowed, Mercedes legacy in documenting the multitude of paranormal occurrences here remains, inspiring visitors of the market, much like myself, who seek Ghost Alley Espresso with the hopes of encountering paranormal phenomena…
THE GHOSTS
In her book “Seattle’s Market Ghost Stories”, Mercedes recounts that when setting up decor within Ghost Alley Espresso, wall art had a mysterious knack of falling or, at times, flying off of the walls and thus had to be secured well with wire and nails. [5] Additionally, the “iPad, register, and espresso equipment would often behave as though someone unseen was interacting with them.”—in an attempt to remedy this activity, mediums were brought in on occasion to spiritually cleanse the space, although paranormal events would endure. [5]
Another well-versed local in the markets haunting history, tour guide Jessica Ness of Emerald City Tour Guides, remarked in a video for Seattle Refined that some of her “spookiest experiences working at the market have actually taken place here at Ghost Alley Espresso.” [7] In total, such experiences and eye-witness accounts have signaled two primary spirits which appear to still call Ghost Alley Espresso home:
Frank Goodwin
Frank Goodwin was one of the markets original founders and managers, playing a large role in its design and the standard business dealings such a place would entail. After his passing in 1954, the spirit of Frank, who kept an office space near what is now Ghost Alley Espresso and its neighbor, the Alibi Room, was rumored to stick around, perhaps keeping an eye on his beloved Pike Place Market. [8] According to Mercedes, “He’s seen as an old man at the bottom of the Alibi stairs, where he introduces himself as Frank and asks if visitors need help with directions—just as he would have in life.” [8] Knowing this, if you ever find yourself approaching Ghost Alley Espresso, keep an eye on who you pass by!
Arthur Goodwin
Franks nephew Arthur, who took over as the markets manager in 1926, has also been spotted from time to time, including one instance with a Ghost Alley Espresso barista who “saw the apparition of a tall man in a hat standing in the doorway”—worth noting is that Arthur was known to wear a signature black top hat. [5] Likewise, Mercedes would receive an email from a creeped-out parent containing a photo drawn at Ghost Alley Espresso by their daughter depicting a man who she claimed to see: he was in a top hat, wore a dark suit, and sported angel wings on his back while standing near a cage, indicting to the girl that “he was trapped”. [5] As a result, some speculate as to the nature of his spirit presence here; is it by choice, or is something keeping him here?
NOTABLE INVESTIGATIONS
In 2010, a market-wide paranormal investigation of sorts would go underway, hosted by Darkness Radio and featuring members of the Ghost Adventures crew. Although Ghost Alley Espresso was not yet open, investigators would explore this area of the market and the neighboring businesses, such as the Alibi Room and the Theater. Granted information on this event has been difficult to trace, but you can catch glimpses of their presence here in Ghost Adventures season 4, episode 13 or 14 (a prior episode in this season was removed, skewing the numbers) which features the famous Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub, also located at Pike Place Market.
Having lived in the area for the past two years (and counting) I have personally spent much time outside of Ghost Alley Espresso, frequenting it for their delicious chai (I am not a fan of coffee) and, on occasion, bringing my P-SB7 Spirit Box and noise-cancelling headphones to listen for any potential ghosties.
During a recent excursion, I did pick up the statement “ewe, gum” through the P-SB7 Spirit Box. This is relevant considering that Ghost Alley Espresso also sits at the site of the infamous Gum Wall in Post Alley. (Yes, it is literally a section of the alleyway that is entirely coated in chewing gum.) To have spirit acknowledgment of the utter grossness gave me a chuckle… even they appear to be just as disgusted as I am!
Succeeding this event, I carried out a longer session the following weekend with my P-SB7 Spirit Box at the market while simultaneously working on this very blog post. After some strange interference and the audio coming through the device taking on a unusual rhythmic pattern, the conversation I had with a rather masculine sounding voice went as follows:
Spirit Box: “What are you working on?”
Me: “An article about the market.”
Spirit Box: “For how long?”
Me: “Just a few weeks.”
Spirit Box: “Let me know if I can help.”
At this point, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, it was one of the Goodwin men. Perhaps Arthur who, fun fact, had a love of theater, dance, and performance which inspired some of the theater-esque design elements implemented into the market. [5] Or maybe it was someone else who spent time at the market in life and, seemingly, in death. Knowing that these communicative sessions usually run short, the following question I asked leaned in this direction:
Me: “If you had to pass on any message about the market, what would it be?”
Spirit Box: “I don’t know, let me think. To just enjoy it.”
Although I did not receive a name or identifying information, this brief conversation was still an immense pleasure, showcasing that the paranormal truly is ingrained in Pike Place Market. And in the words of whomever it was I communicated with that day, just enjoy it!
MORE INFORMATION
Are you looking to visit Ghost Alley Espresso for yourself? Just be sure to check online for current business hours, and know that there is no longer indoor space. During weekends and summer months, the line outside of the order window can also be quite lengthy, but trust me, it is well worth the wait! The merchandise is also quite irresistible: T-shirts, stickers, pins, beanies, and even themed bagged coffee, like “Spirit Aged” and “Franks Blend”.
Do be mindful of any photos or videos you take and who may be present in them—the baristas, understandably, do not want to be photographed all day, every day while at work. (This is why my own photos and videos of Ghost Alley Espresso are usually taken at night after business hours, or on slow days once they have stepped away from the window to fulfill and order.)
Oh, and one more thing… be cautious of some information you may find online about the market, Ghost Alley Espresso, and its hauntings, as well as some tour companies which frequent it. With the rise of AI, artificially produced histories, hauntings, and generated imagery are slowly taking over the paranormal scene—beware of their lack of authenticity and accuracy!
Here is a mini vlog from a recent trip of mine so you know what to expect:
Have you experienced anything paranormal at Ghost Alley Espresso? Share your story below or contact The Seattle Ghost Club!
This article was researched, written, and edited by Ivy Boyd.
Works Cited
1. Seattle Municipal Archives, “Pike Place Market Historical District” https://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/historic-preservation/historic-districts/pike-place-market-historical-district#history
2. Seattle Municipal Archives, “Pike Place Market Centennial” https://www.seattle.gov/city-archives/exhibits-and-education/online-exhibits/pike-place-market-centennial
3. Lisa Kinoshita, “Seattle Remembers the Japanese Internment”, Seattle Business Magazine, 2012 https://seattlemag.com/seattle-remembers-japanese-internment/
4. Ghost Alley Espresso, Wikipedia https://theseattleghostclub-hnxyi.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=18&action=edit
5. Mercedes Yaeger, “Seattle’s Market Ghost Stories – A Historical Narrative About Seattle & the Ghosts of Pike Place Market”, 2009 (Updated 2020) p. 76 ISBN 978-0-615-32492-0
6. “Pike Place Market” for Visit Seattle https://visitseattle.org/things-to-do/sightseeing/pike-place-market/
7. “Haunted Pike Place: Ghost stories of Seattle’s most iconic market” for Seattle Refined, YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yds1BkQo52U&t=30s
8. James Ross Gardner, “Meet the Ghosts That Haunt the Market”, Seattle Met, 2011 https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2011/06/pike-place-market-ghosts-june-2011
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