Old Seattle Paperworks

06/19/2026

Fresh Daily! Our newly designed & screen printed Pike Place Market poster is officially here & ready to go! The image is based on a 1930’s WPA poster - our version is designed by Brian Maebius, and screen printed by Tahoma Print & Mfg, a Puyallup Tribe enterprise. Our Market poster is a tribute to the high stall culture - the cacophony of fruit & veggie displays lovingly built by the vendors of yesterday and today. Arcade 5 was Manzo Bros high stall, known for its intricate displays built by Dan and his son Mark for many decades. Millions of photographs exist around the world of the vibrant colorful displays of Arcade 5. (“Please No Squeeze” signs on the peaches 🍑) We honor that legend & tradition with this poster, our love letter to the Market.

04/30/2026

Mayday! Mayday!

Time to toot our horn - 50 years in business - Toot! Toot! We got a clown banner to announce the achievement. Big Thanks to maintenance for the assist!

Just realizing it: America is celebrating 250 years of its official self, and for 20% of that time John Hanawalt has operated the business he opened back on May 1st, 1976. Wowza! Gadzooks! & Huzzah!

We have gratitude for these decades of joyful work, for the many trusted friends who’ve been valued employees, for our customers from around the world & down the block, for the many families who’ve trusted us to handle their precious collections, who’ve invited us to crawl around in basements and attics, sorting and organizing, storing and selling…storing and selling…

It’s an epic journey compiled of the scraps and bits of our shared experiences and histories, sifted and saved, preserved to be parsed. It’s the cycle of nostalgia! and we are proud to be in the strange beautiful business of sharing paper with all of you.

Thank you for keeping us alight.
Sincerely,
John & Amy Hanawalt

01/30/2026

In support of General Strike, 20% of today’s proceeds will be donated to AIDNW. We’re observing a pause in business from 1:30-2:30. We love our community and stand with our neighbors. ♥️

Learn how to offer compassionate support and services to immigrants and asylum seekers in detention and upon release through nonprofit Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest.

05/01/2025

Happy May Day! John opened the shop on this day back in 1976, and moved to the current spot Down Under in Pike Place Market on this day in 1978. Still going strong thanks to all of you, our Market customers! Many Thanks for 49 years of business. Cheers!

02/23/2025

We found a box of old snapshots to sort thru - they’ll be in the shop soon 📸

11/11/2024

Anne Smith of Sunny Honey wrote this beautiful remembrance of John Corrigan, a beloved Market resident & long time regular customer of many Market businesses.

05/01/2024

Happy May Day! John opened up OSP back in 1976 on this day. In 1978 he moved into the Market and today marks 48 years in business! Come say hi to shop wizard Jason (pictured) today!

05/01/2023

Thanks to all of YOU - customers, friends, & family - today, May 1st, is the Shop’s 47th year in business!!! Swing by and say Hi to Jason! And THANK YOU for your patronage!

01/01/2023