Pike Place Chowder
Pike Place Chowder is a family-owned Seattle restaurant group operating two locations serving award-winning chowders, seafood rolls, and fish dishes, with nationwide shipping via Goldbelly and QVC.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pike Place Chowder does
Pike Place Chowder Co. is a family-owned restaurant group founded in 2003 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, operating two brick-and-mortar locations: the Pike Place Market flagship at 1530 Post Alley and the Pacific Place mall location at 600 Pine Street. The business was originated by Larry Mellum and head chef Mike Hillyer, who began developing recipes in a West Seattle kitchen in the 1990s; following Mellum's retirement, the Hillyer family (Mike, Casey, Emily, and Dr. Jake) now owns and operates the company. The core product portfolio centers on chowders (New England Clam Chowder, Seafood Bisque, Manhattan Clam Chowder, Smoked Salmon Chowder, and seasonal varieties) supported by seafood rolls (lobster and Dungeness crab), fish and chips, sandwiches, and rotating seasonal specials, with 17 national first-place chowder awards reinforcing brand positioning.
Revenue is generated through a diversified multi-channel model: in-store dining at two Seattle locations, online ordering via the Toast platform, third-party local delivery through DoorDash and UberEats, national frozen shipping through Goldbelly and (as of December 2025) QVC, catering services, gift cards, and branded merchandise. Pricing follows a unit-pricing model with chowders sized from 8 oz. to quart and seafood rolls available in quarter- and half-pound portions, with catering priced on quote. The customer base spans Seattle tourists and residents (primary), walk-in Pike Place Market visitors, and a national shipping tail.
The company has no proprietary technology stack; operations rely on third-party platforms (Toast, Goldbelly, QVC, DoorDash, UberEats) and its Squarespace-hosted website. All seafood is 100% certified sustainable under Seattle Aquarium, Smart Catch, James Beard Foundation, and MSC certifications. The firm remains entirely family-controlled with no disclosed outside investors, parent company, or institutional funding.
Pike Place Chowder firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pike Place Chowder
- Legal name
- Pike Place Chowder Co.
- Website
- https://pikeplacechowder.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Pike Place Chowder is a family-owned Seattle restaurant group operating two locations serving award-winning chowders, seafood rolls, and fish dishes, with nationwide shipping via Goldbelly and QVC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pike Place Chowder industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Casual Seafood Restaurant
- NAICS
- Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hot Hold & Ready-to-Eat Meals (Rotisserie, Hot Bar, Entrées) (CRAHAKAB)
Keywords
Where Pike Place Chowder is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Pike Place Chowder business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Retail Chowder and Seafood Sales: Direct sales of chowders, seafood rolls, fish & chips, and other menu items at two Seattle restaurant locations. Primary revenue stream.
- Catering Services: Office lunches, parties, and special events. Chowder by the gallon, seafood rolls, and other menu items for groups.
- National Shipping: Overnight shipping of frozen chowder and seafood kits nationwide through Goldbelly and QVC.
- Third-Party Delivery: Commission-based sales through DoorDash and UberEats delivery platforms.
- Merchandise: T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, hats, dog bandanas, and other branded merchandise sold in-store and online.
- Gift Cards: Gift cards available in-store and online through Toast platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Chowder sizes from 8 oz. to quart |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Catering services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Seafood rolls and sandwiches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Market Chowder (Chef's Choice) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels8 records
Pike Place Chowder product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pike Place Chowder is a family-owned Seattle restaurant that crafts scratch-made chowders and seafood dishes using fresh, locally sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients from two storefronts in Pike Place Market and Pacific Place Mall. The menu centers on award-winning chowders (New England Clam Chowder, Seafood Bisque, Manhattan Chowder, and seasonal varieties), seafood rolls, fish & chips, and sandwiches, complemented by catering, nationwide frozen shipping via Goldbelly, and branded merchandise. The Hillyer family operates both locations, daily happy hour, and online ordering through the Toast platform.
Product overview
Pike Place Chowder is a family-owned restaurant group operating two Seattle locations (Pike Place Market flagship and Pacific Place mall). The core product portfolio centers on award-winning chowders (17 national championships), including New England Clam Chowder (Hall of Fame), Seafood Bisque, Manhattan Chowder, and seasonal varieties like Smoked Salmon, Scallop, and Crab & Oyster chowders. Supporting products include seafood rolls (Lobster Roll, Dungeness Crab Roll), Fish & Chips (Pacific Cod, Wild Salmon), sandwiches, and appetizers. The business extends through multiple channels: dine-in service, online ordering via Toast platform, local delivery (DoorDash, UberEats), nationwide frozen shipping (Goldbelly, QVC), catering services, and branded merchandise. The Pacific Place location offers an expanded menu including Mac & Cheese with seafood additions, fish baskets, and daily happy hour.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New England Clam Chowder Award-winning New England-style chowder with meaty clams, bacon, cream, and a proprietary herb blend; 17-time national first-place winner and Hall of Fame inductee, served at both Pike Place Chowder Seattle locations in sizes from 8 oz. to a quart, with sourdough bread or bread bowl.
- Seafood Bisque
Companies that use Pike Place Chowder
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pike Place Chowder technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Pike Place Chowder partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- QVCflagshipNational TV shopping channel partnership for shipping award-winning chowder nationwide. Live on QVC as of December 2025.
- Visit SeattleminorFeatured in Visit Seattle's 'Seattle Seafood Treasures' guide among iconic local seafood institutions.
- Princess & Bear WinesminorAnnual wine and chowder pairing events. Four curated chowders paired with four wines from Princess & Bear. Typically sells out quickly.
- Anchorhead CoffeeminorPride Month partnership with Seattle's Anchorhead Coffee for joint promotional events and giveaways.
- GoldbellycoreNational shipping partner for overnight delivery of frozen chowder and seafood kits to customers throughout the US. Orders placed Monday-Friday with Tuesday-Saturday delivery through UPS.
- Seattle AquariumcoreSustainability certification partner. Pike Place Chowder serves 100% certified sustainable seafood backed by Seattle Aquarium.
- Smart CatchcoreSustainability certification program for seafood. Pike Place Chowder serves 100% certified sustainable seafood.
- James Beard FoundationcoreSustainability certification partner. Pike Place Chowder serves 100% certified sustainable seafood backed by James Beard Foundation.
- MSC (Marine Stewardship Council)coreInternational sustainability certification for seafood. Pike Place Chowder serves 100% certified sustainable seafood backed by MSC.
- Salish Center for Sustainable Fishing MethodscorePartnership to protect wild salmon and Southern Resident Orcas of the Salish Sea. Includes Wave Warriors initiative with A.C. Hart. Pike Place Chowder supports through donations and conservation efforts.
- Path of Hope Dog RescueminorCharitable partnership supporting animal rescue. A portion of dog bandana sales goes to Path of Hope Animal Rescue. Pike Place Chowder is a proud donor.
- Toast (Online Ordering Platform)coreTechnology partner for online ordering system. Powers the company's website ordering, pickup scheduling, and gift card sales.
- DoorDashcoreThird-party delivery partner for local delivery of chowder and seafood to customers.
- UberEatscoreThird-party delivery partner for local delivery of chowder and seafood to customers.
- Beecher's (Seattle's Famous Cheese)minorSupplier of Beecher's Flagship cheese for Lobster Mac N' Cheese menu item. Seattle-based artisan cheese company.
- Pike Place Market FoundationminorCharitable donations recipient. Pike Place Chowder is a proud donor supporting the Pike Place Market community.
- Seattle Police FoundationminorCharitable donations recipient. Pike Place Chowder is a proud donor supporting Seattle Police Foundation.
- ViatorminorChef-guided Pike Place Market food tours include Pike Place Chowder as a featured tasting stop.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pike Place Chowder competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Duke's Seafood: Pacific Northwest seafood restaurant chain with chowder-forward menus and a strong Seattle presence; comparable casual seafood dining model and chowder category focus.
- Anthony's Restaurants: Family-owned PNW seafood restaurant group operating multiple waterfront locations; comparable full-service seafood format with chowders, fish, and shellfish as menu staples.
- Ivar's: Iconic Seattle seafood restaurant group (Acres of Clams flagship on the waterfront) operating multiple Seattle-area locations serving chowders, fish & chips, and Pacific Northwest seafood — directly comparable category, geography, and customer base.
- The Lobster Place: Specialty seafood market and restaurant in NYC combining retail, dine-in, and wholesale seafood — comparable chowder-and-seafood-roll product mix and tourist/customer-destination positioning.
- Fisherman's Wharf Lobster: Tourist-destination seafood shack on Boston's waterfront serving chowders and lobster rolls — comparable high-tourist-traffic, single-product-seafood-positioning and shipping-capable business.
Broad incumbents
- Red Lobster: National seafood casual-dining chain serving chowders, lobster rolls, and fish — the largest comparable in the category, providing scale benchmarks and competitive context for the broader seafood restaurant space.
- Legal Sea Foods: Established national seafood restaurant brand with chowder category leadership, multiple locations, and shipping program — a larger-scale comparable offering overlapping core menu and DTC shipping channels.
- McCormick & Schmick's: Multi-location upscale-casual seafood restaurant chain with broad menu and corporate event/catering capabilities — comparable seafood-focused full-service dining model.
Others
- Goldbelly: National food-shipping marketplace and Pike Place Chowder's key channel partner; analogous enabling platform connecting regional food brands to nationwide customers via frozen shipping.
Regional players
- Salty's Seafood: PNW seafood restaurant group focused on coastal/waterfront locations serving chowders and seafood fare; comparable regional seafood casual-dining model with strong tourist draw.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pike Place Chowder social profiles
Digital presencePike Place Chowder compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Pike Place Chowder financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pike Place Chowder leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Pike Place Chowder funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pike Place Chowder M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pike Place Chowder
What does Pike Place Chowder do?
Pike Place Chowder is a family-owned Seattle restaurant that crafts scratch-made chowders and seafood dishes using fresh, locally sourced Pacific Northwest ingredients from two storefronts in Pike Place Market and Pacific Place Mall. The menu centers on award-winning chowders (New England Clam Chowder, Seafood Bisque, Manhattan Chowder, and seasonal varieties), seafood rolls, fish & chips, and sandwiches, complemented by catering, nationwide frozen shipping via Goldbelly, and branded merchandise. The Hillyer family operates both locations, daily happy hour, and online ordering through the Toast platform.
Is Pike Place Chowder a public or private company?
Pike Place Chowder is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Pike Place Chowder founded?
Pike Place Chowder was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Pike Place Chowder based?
Pike Place Chowder is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pike Place Chowder make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Retail Chowder and Seafood Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering Services, national Shipping, third-Party Delivery, merchandise and gift Cards.
Who are Pike Place Chowder's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Duke's Seafood, Anthony's Restaurants, Ivar's, The Lobster Place and Fisherman's Wharf Lobster. Broad incumbents are Red Lobster, Legal Sea Foods and McCormick & Schmick's. Goldbelly is listed as an others. Salty's Seafood is listed as a regional player.
Does Pike Place Chowder have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pike Place Chowder.
What industry is Pike Place Chowder in?
Pike Place Chowder's product category is Casual Seafood Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAE, Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants, with a secondary code of CRAHAKAB, Hot Hold & Ready-to-Eat Meals (Rotisserie, Hot Bar, Entrées). Its NAICS code is 722513 and its SIC code is 5810.