*HOT TIP!* If you're flying to Seattle, and you plan to visit the Space Needle during your trip there, make sure there's enough room in your luggage before you head to the airport! I've taken a multitude of photos of the various gifts, some of which are pretty large in size, so if there are some gifts you'd like to take back to family/friends back home, you'll have a better idea of how much to pack for your trip.
After visiting the top of the Space Needle, I stopped by the SpaceBase Gift Shop to get a few gifts for myself before heading back home to SoCal. There's an elevator that will take you directly to the gift shop, which is located at the base of the Space Needle. You can actually see the gift shop from one floor above once you enter the Space Needle; however, enjoy the views and elevator rides first before you browse this gift shop!
In addition to the gifts that show the Space Needle, the gift shop has a ton of generic Seattle merch that you could get at any other gift shop in Seattle: sweaters, mugs, books, hats, and even some Seattle chocolate at the register albeit Maeve.
The gift shop sports a lot of merch from all Seattle sports teams: Kraken, Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, Storm, and the defending NBA champion (sort of, no not really lol) Seattle Supersonics. Even though you're more likely to see Seahawks (congrats on the recent Super Bowl title!) than any other team elsewhere in Seattle, the gift shop had more Seattle Kraken instead, likely because the Space Needle is located so close to Climate Pledge Arena.
I don't know which there were more of in this gift shop: Actual Space Needle gifts or just generic Seattle gifts, including the sports teams. However, I only wanted gifts that showed the Space Needle because if I'm going back home to prove that I did visit the Space Needle, how would a Seattle, Washington mug or a Seattle Kraken flag prove that? lol
Even with generic non-Space Needle merch that could be purchased elsewhere, likely a duty-free shop at SeaTac Airport, there's still a good amount of Space Needle gifts for sale at this shop. My visit was during the fall, when it was pretty cold and cloudy in Puget Sound, so I had to pack extra, heavier clothing for my trip. This meant less space in my luggage, so I couldn't really choose the larger gifts not knowing if I'd even have room for them when I fly back home.
Some of the gifts are seasonal, like for example, Space Needle Christmas ornaments. I saw a handful of them during my visit, which was back in November. Other gifts like puzzles, building blocks, books, and drinkware I can see being sold year-round. I'd be curious to see what other gifts are offered during the other holidays, like maybe an Easter bunny plushie donning a Space Needle shirt or some Space Needle artwork depicting 4th of July fireworks in the background?
It took a while to decide what to get, but I settled on three gifts: Space Needle glow-in-the-dark t-shirt, mini Space Needle Figurine, and a DIY Model Kit that should take about 30 minutes to assemble. The cashier also asked if I'd like a tote bag for an additional $1.50. I asked what it looked like, and it was simply a mini Space Needle tote bag, which I gladly accepted since it was only a small fraction of the total cost. I did see some Maeve chocolate bars at the register, which confused me until I later found out Seattle Chocolate is now Maeve Chocolate.
One of the concerns I had about the Space Needle figurine, which is an officially licensed Space Needle product I must add, is that the needle tip would be sharp enough to poke a hole somewhere, especially in my luggage. Luckily, the cashier quelled my fear by wrapping my figurine in paper before completing the transaction.
There are a few machines in the shop that will generate collectible items related to the Space Needle or at least the City of Seattle. There's a Mold-a-matic machine that can create a small Space Needle souvenir model for only $5, and it can be done in just minutes. I didn't go through on this, but there are step-by-step instructions to guide you through this process.
There's a vending machine of Seattle Medallions where you can get one for $5 each or 4 for $15, which really translates to buy 3, get 1 free. Three other penny smashing machines are prevalent in the shop to generate Space Needle souvenir coins as well. I didn't bring any coins with me on this trip; now I'm kind of regretting that lol.
Overall, a good stop at this gift shop before I flew back home. Even if you're a Seattle native, I'd still recommend stopping by to see if there's a large gift that you could use at home! read more