The Market Magic Shop (also known as the Market Magic & Novelty Shop[1][2] and the Pike Place Magic Shop)[3] is a magic store at Seattle's Pike Place Market, in the U.S. state of Washington.

Market Magic Shop
Founded1974; 50 years ago (1974)
Headquarters1501 Pike Place Apt, 427,
Seattle, Washington
,
United States
Owners
  • Sheila Lyon
  • Darryl Beckmann

Description

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Interior, 2022

The magic store is located at Pike Place Market in Central Waterfront, Seattle. Frommer's says, "Located on the Down Under's fourth level, the Market Magic Shop sells all kinds of tricks and paraphernalia for magicians."[4] In 2018, John Prentice of Seattle Refined wrote, "Market Magic stocks a wide variety of reasonably priced miracles starting at under $10, something for every age and skill level, from complete kits for the beginner to complex illusions used by the best in the business."[5] The shop has stocked century-old posters, juggling pins, practical joke devices, and various tricks.[3]

Operated by spouses Sheila Lyon and Darryl Beckmann,[6] the business has been described by Harrison Jacobs of Business Insider as one of the oldest operating magic shops in the United States and a "staple" of Pike Place Market.[7] Employees are professional magicians and the shop also has an automated fortune-telling machine.[8]

History

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Sign

Market Magic Shop was established in 1974.[8][9] The business received relief funding during the COVID-19 pandemic,[10] and attempted to attract visitors using social media.[11]

Reception

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In 2016, Brian Kelly of the Bainbridge Island Review described the business as an "iconic magic shop in the Pike Place Market that's been a must-see for visitors and tourists to Seattle for more than 40 years".[2] Sarah Anne Lloyd of Curbed Seattle has said visiting the shop "is a pretty mandatory part of the Pike Place Market experience, with all the classics of a Houdini-style magic store -- illusion supplies, sleight-of-hand tricks, pranks, that kind of thing".[12]

Lonely Planet has said, "Selling fake dog poop, stink bombs, water-squirting rings and magic tricks, this Pike Place magic shop is heaven for aspiring magicians, school kids, and grown-ups who wish they were still school kids.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Lacitis, Erik (2014-08-07). "Magicians need more than tricks to survive". Times Herald-Record. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  2. ^ a b Kelly, Brian (2016-06-20). "In memory of Koa: Survivors of tragic house fire hope to honor lost dog". Bainbridge Island Review. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  3. ^ a b McClure, Rosemary (2017-11-26). "Pike Place Market, a Seattle favorite, freshens up with a new addition and more places to eat and shop". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  4. ^ "Walking Tour 1 in Seattle | Frommer's". Frommer's. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  5. ^ Prentice, John (2018-04-26). "Abracadabra! Everyone who works at this Pike Place Magic Shop is actually a magician". Seattle Refined. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  6. ^ "Psychic entertainer reads between the lines". Bainbridge Island Review. 2005-08-10. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  7. ^ Jacobs, Harrison (2018-01-25). "Inside America's most iconic farmer's market where you can get freshly caught salmon, magic supplies, and coffee from the first Starbucks". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  8. ^ a b Swick, Shaun (2016-06-10). "A Deep Dive into Pike Place Market". City Arts Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  9. ^ Peterson, Dave (2014-01-01). "The Secrets of Pike Place". Northwest Travel Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  10. ^ Baker, Geoff (2020-09-03). "Seattle small business owners say COVID-19 relief money from city was a 'godsend'". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  11. ^ Lozano, Alicia Victoria (2020-03-03). "Seattle feels like 'ghost town,' business owners say as they face life in coronavirus hot spot". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  12. ^ Marcus, Lilit (2019-04-29). "Pike Place Market in Seattle: What to see and do". CNN. Archived from the original on 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  13. ^ Lonely Planet:
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