If approved, the sip and stroll pilot program would feature two dozen participating businesses.
SEATTLE — Pike Place could see a car-free weekend happy hour all summer, allowing patrons to sip wine, beer and cocktails while enjoying the market, pending approval from the group that manages the market.
Twenty-four merchants in Pike Place Market have proposed a sip and stroll pilot program running from late May through September.
The program builds on a successful 2025 pilot that limited vehicle traffic through the market during most daytime hours.
The event would close the road through the market to vehicle traffic on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:30 p.m., allowing attendees to enjoy alcoholic beverages while walking through key walkways and public seating areas nearby.
Participating businesses include staples such as Rachel’s Ginger Beer, The Pink Door, DeLaurenti, Old Stove Brewing, Radiator Whiskey, Pike Place Bar and Grill, Sound View Cafe and Lonely Siren.
The Pike Place Historical Commission is set to review the proposal at its May 13 meeting.
Pike Place has seen limited vehicle traffic since April 2025 as part of a pilot program testing the effects of reduced car traffic on commerce in the market. The market closed access to most vehicles — excluding deliveries and emergency vehicles — from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
So far, the changes have translated to increased foot traffic, about a 9% increase in retail sales within the market and a 10% increase in restaurant business, according to data from the Pike Place Public Development Authority.
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