With his boisterous personality and mile-wide grin, Bill made quite a go of it, eventually expanding to a second location, each with a lunch counter, bakery and full butcher shop — the latter presided over by Bill himself who, prior to donning his apron, had never carved anything more challenging than a chateaubriand at the Cascadian. He became an expert in short order, though, and the Market became known as much for its high quality meats as for the hand-painted and frequently misspelled window signs Bill fashioned on butcher paper, announcing the week’s specials. With the exception of winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee, there was nothing Bill couldn’t accomplish.  

It’s this unwillingness to mention, or even so much as think the phrase, “I can’t”, that forms an inextricable link between Bill and Betsy — his grandson Mike’s wife. The founder, owner, chef, and the very heart of today’s Washington Market, Betsy brings Bill’s soul and warmth to every morsel she offers and each moment you spend at the Market. Combined with her own infectious spirit, love of people and quest for the perfect epicurean delight, Washington Market hopes to bring the best of Washington to anyone who stops by, even if it’s only to say “hello.”

For some, that’s starting the day with a latte or drip, freshly pressed from Seattle’s Herkimer Coffee beans. For others it’s one of Betsy’s hand-crafted box lunches or grab-n-go salads for an afternoon on the lake. And there’s little that can top your own epic charcutarie fashioned from the best of Mike’s Meats, Beecher’s Cheeses, and rustic breads from local artisan bakeries. Stop by the cafe and marketplace for a seat at the community table or to dash in to grab a hard-to-find specialty item. Whatever your pleasure, Washington Market is the Lake’s culinary emporium. And Betsy is ever-present, behind the counter, visiting with guests, or helping her staff serve WashMark’s mouthwatering fare.