August 2025 Project of The Month: PCC’s Downtown Corner Market
If you’re from the Pacific Northwest, you’ve likely heard of and have shopped at PCC. What began as a food-buying club of 15 Seattle families in the 1950’s has grown into the region’s most popular co-op, now operating 15 community markets. Since the beginning, PCC has prioritized strong partnerships with Northwest farmers and producers to offer high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and goods.
PCC stands out not only as the largest community-owned food market but also as a leader in sustainable practices. They maintain high standards in every operational aspect, including partnerships and sourcing materials for their stores. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in every detail – even their wayfinding signage!
Though PCC had recently exited Rainier Tower in Seattle, they soon reconsidered and chose it as the ideal location for their headquarters. What needed to change, however, was the concept for the downtown store. With Seattle’s high weekday foot traffic, PCC saw an opportunity to offer a solution tailored for convenience. This is what led to the idea of their first-ever Corner Market.
Now open Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm, the Corner Market is designed with weekday patrons in mind. Offerings include ready-to-eat deli dishes, sushi, hot pizza slices, hot sandwiches, a salad bar, a hot and soup bar, coffee and tea, freshly cut fruits and vegetables, and locally sourced beer and wine. Perfectly positioned between the Seattle Art Museum, Pike Place Market, the 5th Ave Theatre, and only blocks away from the light rail, it’s an ideal stop for quick bites and drinks on the go.
PCC’s commitment to sustainability and local partnerships extends to the creation of their markets. Across multiple locations, we’ve collaborated with them to create both interior and exterior signage that supports their mission to sustainability and local craftsmanship. As we shared in an article last year, PCC incorporates reclaimed materials, such as the salvaged wood signs used throughout their stores. They also utilize energy efficient lighting solutions and chemical-free finishes.
For the new Corner Market, we developed a comprehensive sign package. At the 4th Ave Street entrance, we fabricated a canopy sign as well as a hanging blade sign. The canopy sign features an acrylic face, internally illuminated with 5k white LEDs. The hanging blade sign is made with aluminum faces painted to match PCC’s branded blue, acrylic push-thru lettering, cedar wood accents, and a routed, digitally printed graphic illuminated by LEDs.
Inside, we repainted the parking garage wall with a new Corner Market branding. We also crafted a community board wall sign made from stained cedar wood slats along with four wayfinding wood slat signs labeling the store’s various sections all hand-painted to reflect PCC’s signature warm, cohesive style.
The Corner Market is the perfect fit for downtown, whether for a spontaneous outing or an everyday quick stop. As PCC continues to evolve, their legacy of top-tier partnerships, quality products, and sustainable materials remains at the forefront. We’re honored to be a part of their transformation and proud to align with their strong, thoughtful business practices.
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