Washington Market
Most people have a secret plan in the back of their minds — an alternate path; a dream of some sort that would free them of life’s burdens and fulfill a primal desire to have long ago chosen a different road. Washington Market represents one such plan. The brand design that brings it to life is based on an 80-year old business, but is decidedly lively and contemporary.
After nearly 40 years in the advertising business, which surely is more than enough for anyone, it seemed to these dreamers that the was right time for a reverse Beverly Hillbillies. Escaping the madness that Seattle has become to the arid beauty of the Chelan Valley, east of the Cascades that divide Washington in two, made perfect sense. Going back in time a couple of generations to resurrect the Washington Market was the perfect plan.
Plans, unfortunately, change. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not. With regard to Washington Market it’s too early to know just yet, but one thing is certain, it’s an idea that Lake Chelan is screaming for. Here’s why:
The Lake’s population increases 10-fold over the summer months — June 1st thru the end of September — and is comprised mostly of city folk yearning for the bucolic town of Chelan, the beauty of all 55 miles of the lake itself, and the warmth of Eastern Washington’s cloudless summer days. Nonetheless, they bring with them things that are difficult to shake during a week or two of vacation. This includes the need for an expertly crafted latte, the desire for a cheese plate comprised of something more culinary than mild cheddar, Swiss and American, and the expectation that although they may be on vacation, their requests for such fare will be met within this lifetime.
Washington Market is fashioned to provide exactly those things — to cater to the fast-paced city palette that defines the summer months while also honoring the long, rich history of the Chelan Valley and the locals that continue to define its core. The brand is an evolution of the original Washington Market, founded in Wenatchee by Bill Sperry in 1940. It’s built on the tenets of fine quality, attentive service and a welcoming nature. Someday — soon, we hope — it will see the light of a warm summer day on the lake.
Bill Sperry’s original business card (above) and a sheet of Washington Market letterhead (below).
Our brand identity work includes a website design (although not quite finished, you can visit it at the link, below), a logo and badge system, packaging, in-store signage and various other elements.