Knife Skills

Sur La Table was founded in Seattle in 1972 by Shirley Collins, a woman with a passion for food and a fondness for community. Living in Seattle, she fell in love with Pike Place Market with its inspiring blend of products, artisans, and farmers. To her, it was a special gathering place for food lovers and culinary visionaries alike.

When Shirley opened her first store in Pike Place Market, she was determined to assemble the best selection of cookware, gadgets, linens and books—even importing exclusive specialty items from France, her favorite culinary destination. Using the market as her inspiration, she thoughtfully filled her store with cooking tools that would bring people together in the kitchen and around the table. This sense of connection and love of French cuisine inspired the name Sur La Table, which simply means “on the table.”

Since then we’ve grown to 56 stores across America, with the largest avocational cooking program in the U.S. But some things haven’t changed: We’re still the place for an unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table. We’re still passionate about cooking and entertaining, eager to share all we know. Whether the job entails interacting with our customers on a daily basis or providing the vital behind-the-scenes support, we’re all here for the same reason – to create happiness through cooking and sharing good food.