09/11/2025
The Pike Place Fish Market, founded in 1930, is an open air fish market located in Seattle, Washington’s Pike Place Market, at the corner of Pike Street and Pike Place.
After nearing bankruptcy in 1986, the fish market owner, Mr. John Yokoyama and employees decided to become "world famous", changing their way of doing business by introducing their flying fish, games with customers, and staff attitudes of always enjoying their work, so that customers would as well.
Four years later, they were featured repeatedly in the national media and television shows. The store is now a popular tourist destination in Seattle, attracting up to 10,000 daily visitors, and is often billed as world-famous. In 1991, CNN named the Pike Place Fish Market as one of the three most fun places to work in America
How?
Fish! is a parable, an invented story about finding deep source of energy, creativity and passion that exists inside each of us by learning to love what we do, even if at the moment we may not be doing exactly what we love.
Fish! Philosophy
1. Choose your attitude - There is always a choice about the way you do your work, even if there is not a choice about the work itself
2. Play - Engage customers and welcome them to play
3. Make their day - have fun doing our work / help others
4. Be Present - for self, for each other and for the customers
"As you enter the place of work please choose to make today a great day. Your colleagues, customers, team members and yourself will be thankful. Find ways to play. We can be serious about our work without being serious about ourselves. Stay focused in order to be present when your customers and team members most need you. And should you feel your energy lapsing, try this sure-fire remedy: Find someone who needs a helping hand, a word of support, or a good ear – and make their day".
