cover
story
lCittlrealiıgst’s
A simple list of events
has turned into a wildly
popular Web portal
IBy Lisa Alcalay Klug
N THE EARLY INTERNET DAYS of 1995, Craig erates as an auction, craigslist (
www.craigslist.org) is a
Newmark sent an e-mail to a dozen friends about combination of classified ads, dating sites and garage
local art and technology events. He was merely a sales, all rolled into one. Users in various cities around
mild-mannered computer security architect at the world search craigslist for local jobs, dates, used
Charles Schwab in San Francisco. In the weeks that Jacuzzi tubs and nearly anything else. Someone once
followed, he continued updating and expanding his even advertised for a person to take an accounting
frequent e-mails. ethics exam.
Six months later, Newmark—now working as Jobs and housing listings receive the most page
an independent consultant—wrote software to views, followed by items for sale, personals and
pour those files into a Web site. He began posting forums on everything from haiku and weddings to
résumés, jobs and apartment listings as a public ser- transgender issues and philosophy. Wildly popular,
vice. Soon word spread, making the site a growing the site has attracted a cult-like following of more
one-stop shop for all things San Franciscan. than 6. 5 million posts per month, with more than
Eventually the site got so big that running it 700 raw hits per second at peak times. And it is
You can buy, sell or seek took nearly all of Newmark’s time. He found he almost entirely free.
nearly anything on could pay for the site by charging Despite his increasing household fame, Newmark,
craigslist. for job ads. In early 1999, he a Costco member, is an affable Clark Kent kind of
hired a few employees, then guy. A 53-year-old bachelor, he describes himself as
slowly added more over time. In a nerd, and says he’s embarrassed that the site is
2000, the Website expanded to named after him. To avoid drawing even more
nine more cities, adding more attention to his name, he maintains the site in low-staff and ultimately demand- ercase letters. In his online bio, he goes so far as to
ing a physical home of its say,“Heain’tnobigdeal.”
own. Today, more than a His supporters beg to differ. Newmark has
decade and 19 employees turned down tens of millions of dollars from venture
later, Newmark is a cyber capitalists so he can continue to pursue and maintain
Superman of sorts: the goa- his vision: providing an online community and sup-teed crusader behind the porting the exchange of goods and ideas.
renowned populist Web site “As The New York Times reported, we are the
of the Internet: craigslist. marketplace in the ancient style: chaotic, unruly and
Unlike eBay, which op- vividly human,” Ne wmark tells The Connection. “We
