BY MATT KITE for WEEKLY VOLCANO 8/29/25 |
Chris Staudinger can’t resist Tacoma’s siren song. He came here in the aughts to study at Pacific Lutheran University. After pursuing a double major in English writing and theater and earning his degree in 2008, he never left. “Once it hooks you,” he said of Tacoma, “you can’t escape it.”
Originally from Eastern Washington, where he split time in Spokane and the Tri-Cities, Staudinger fell in love with Grit City, whose colorful history, warm citizenry, and mysterious nooks and crannies inspired him to put down roots and call Tacoma home.
With the help of Tawny Clark, his wife and business partner, Staudinger founded Pretty Gritty Tours in 2016, introducing thousands of tourists and locals alike to quirky Tacoma, from its spookiest haunts to its most delectable sweets.
His latest project? A book called Secret Tacoma: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Published by Reedy Press on August 1, Secret Tacoma compiles everything Staudinger has discovered about Tacoma and delivers it in a fun and easy-to-digest format. Readers learn about the Liberty Bell replica hidden behind Union Station and the strange-looking fountain donated by Mayor Fawcett in 1908 and eventually relocated to Fireman’s Park, among other curiosities. “It’s the book I wish I had had when I first got to Tacoma,” Staudinger said. “There’s just so much that’s truly interesting about Tacoma, but there wasn’t a centralized source for ‘What is that over there?’ I tried to write it so it would be as intriguing to a first-time Tacoma visitor as it would be to a lifetime Tacoma resident. Anyone who has any affection for this city—this is the book.”
Billed as a treasure map to Tacoma’s best-hidden secrets, Secret Tacoma explores the city’s obscure and unique history. Staudinger’s new work is, in many ways, a love story, with Tacoma playing the role of the love interest. “It is the manual for how to fall in love with Tacoma,” he said. “It’s got eighty-four lesser-known things about the city, and it seeks to shine a light on how incredible this city really is.”
Staudinger has planned several events to promote the book, which is his first and took a year to write. Book signings are scheduled for Friday, August 29, at Crescent Moon Gifts, and Saturday, August 30, at the Pacific Northwest Shop during the Proctor Farmers Market. Meanwhile, a special launch event is slated for Friday, September 5, at the Foss Waterway Seaport at 6 p.m.
Staudinger worked as a travel journalist for a decade before carving out his current career as tour guide and operator. His tours explore not only Tacoma but Olympia, Seattle, and the Tri-Cities, his former stomping grounds. In Tacoma, he leads ghost tours, coffee tours, art tours, noir tours—the list goes on. All play a part in his ongoing love affair with his adopted hometown. “I hope people enjoy the book,” he said, “and I hope people come out and take the tour. I lead the majority of the tours still, but I can’t be everywhere. I do have a fantastic team that helps me.”
When asked to reveal his favorite thing about Tacoma, Staudinger was quick to answer. “It’s the people,” he said. “Tacoma has maintained its character and its community in a way that a lot of other cities haven’t.”
What about those snobby hipsters from Seattle who still see Tacoma as some foul-smelling industrial backwater? What would he tell them? His answer is part earnest, part salty: “I would tell them to come and give us a chance, and it will be easy, because we actually have parking available.”
Buy online at: Reedy Press
