Beacon Hill Produce Stand MacPherson's Reopens

The 40-year-old produce stand reopens after a six-month closure.

by Alex Garland

It was early, but Elias Benitez was excited; the doors to MacPherson's Fruit & Produce were reopening in 30 minutes. MacPherson's grand reopening took place Saturday, March 9, after six months of closure. In September of last year, owner Greg MacPherson decided to retire and close the produce stand that had been a mainstay in Beacon Hill for 40 years.

Benitez, a 25-year employee of MacPherson's, enjoys working with fruit and vegetables, but how he was treated by Greg MacPherson was what kept him around. "I stayed here because I liked the job, and Greg treated me good. You stay where they treat you good." Now, Benitez is leasing the property from MacPherson but plans to keep the name. "An opportunity was given to me, so I took it," Benitez told the Emerald. "I hope I can provide for the community, because we're here for the community."

While working on the building a month ago, Benitez was stopped by multiple neighbors who asked if MacPherson's would be open again, and while he was able to answer "yes," he was unsure when it would be. But the neighborhood vibe was obvious: People missed MacPherson's.

Elaine Dondoyano was the first in line and lives one block away. Dondoyano told the Emerald that she used to refer to MacPherson's as her "second refrigerator." "It's like a friendly neighbor who is welcoming to us, it feels like an extension of my home. It means a lot to the community."

Nick Farwell used to ride bikes with his son in the summer to MacPherson's for ice cream and was a longtime customer "for the best greens." Farwell was thrilled the stand has reopened and considers the produce stand a "jewel of Beacon Hill."

Customer Amy-Lou Abernethy considers MacPherson's "uniquely Seattle" for being an "open-air neighborhood market." When the business closed, Abernethy lamented the loss as another neighborhood treasure shut down. Now, Abernethy's approach has changed: "It made me want to make an effort to patronize the places that are really special to me and not just take them for granted."

Most things will be the same, including convenience items, like chips, drinks, and ice cream. While the overflowing outdoor containers of vegetables are gone, the indoor tables remain, piled with veggies from all over Washington. One of only five employees, Benitez expects to hire more people as business picks up, and says he will be there seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

📸 Featured Image: Elias Benitez, a 25-year former employee of Greg MacPherson, is now leasing the produce stand from his former employer, keeping the beloved spot on Beacon Hill. (Photo: Alex Garland)