Owner peter aaron said he expects better business on. Axis occupies the old elliott bay book company space in pioneer square. Bill clinton stops by seattles elliott bay book co. Elliott bay book company is located south of downtown in pioneer square. Elliott bay book company opened in 1973 in pioneer square.
May 02, 2017 katie levinson, 10, left, and phoebe kim, 2, relax with books at elliott bay book co. Tamara murphys old elliott bay cafe occupied the basement level of the bookstore. This fast track project required required seismic reinforcement to stay on schedule, we selfperformed this work and the unique woodframe storefront that brings. The elliott bay book company is surrounded by art galleries, eateries, fine restaurants, clubs, bookshops, and distinguished retail shops. The square boasts of some of seattles finest shops.
What better way to pass the time on a rainy seattle afternoon than browsing for that latest thriller or travel. Pioneer square is seattles historic district, filled with brick structures constructed primarily after the great fire in 1889. One possible new location is capitol hill, where business conditions arent necessarily more favorable. Oct 27, 2009 e veryone is upset that elliott bay book co. All eyes on the elliott bay book company book patrol. Founded in 1973, elliott bay has changed ownership three times. The waterway it provides to the pacific ocean has served as a key element of the citys. Seattles founders settled there in 1852, following a brief sixmonth settlement at alki point on the far side of elliott bay. Jacob grew up going with his parents to the old elliott bay down in pioneer square. Elliott bay book company seattle 2020 all you need to know.
Elliott bay books lets you sail a sea of tomes, tales and texts. Thousands of books, disassembled shelves and a staff of 38 were moved across town to a renovated space. Thoughts about elliott bay book company slog the stranger. He diverted the motorcade to elliott bay pioneer square after a 1999 fundraiser for the democratic national committee, buying books and. Elliott bay cafe, pioneer square, seattle urbanspoonzomato. Thousands of books, disassembled shelves and a staff of 38 were moved across town to a renovated space at 1521 10th ave. Welcome to the elliott bay book company the elliott bay. Here at the bookstore, four or five of us at any given time move quietly safely distanced around the dormant space. Elliott bay book company opened in 1973 in pioneer square and was one of the first independent book stores in the country to hold author events.
There are 170,000 reasons to visit elliott bay book co. Trump in the white house on sale at elliott bay book company on september 11, 2018. Elliott bay book company is moving to capitol hill slog. Seattle was founded on this body of water in the 1850s and has since grown to encompass it completely.
Onsite discretion was critical at this former warehouse until the new highprofile tenant, elliott bay books, officially announced their plan to relocate from pioneer square. Peter aaron felt stunned when the doors closed for the last time at the elliott bay book co. One of two things would happen when the staff at the elliott bay book co. Mar 08, 2018 elliott bay was on the verge of going out of business, and for years, the bookstore had struggled to make ends meet in their pioneer square location. They havent lost any charm in the move from their expansive pioneer square building to the multilevel capitol hill location but they have lost their large used books section. In fact, when elliott bay moved from its original pioneer square location to buzzy capitol hill, the familyowned book store grew and became even more of a local staple. Elliott bay is a part of the central basin region of puget sound in cascadia. Pioneer square axis occupies the old elliott bay book company space in pioneer square. Elliott bay lost a significant chunk of square footage during the move but gained a home right in the heart of capitol hill. Sep, 2019 rumor has it that cafe nervosa was inspired by the cafe in elliott bay books when it was located in pioneer square, so it tracks, kind of, that frasier and niles start their journey in pioneer. The elliott bay book company is the seattle bookstore and, thankfully, survived its move from pioneer square to capitol hill with soul and towering cedar bookcases intact. What better way to pass the time on a rainy seattle afternoon than browsing for that latest thriller or. Katie levinson, 10, left, and phoebe kim, 2, relax with books at elliott bay book co. He is thrilled to be working at ebbco, and hopes to use his.
Dont get me wrong, we loved and still love elliott bay books, but axis really unveiled the beauty of the space. Dec 09, 2009 in the last two months, ive read a lot of speculationsome thoughtful, some painfully maudlinabout what elliott bay book companys move from pioneer square to capitol hill will mean. Over the years the city expanded to cover all of the waterfront on elliott bay and. The store was rightfully known as the heart of seattles. The elliott bay book company bookstore at capitol hill, seattle, washington, usa. Dec 09, 2009 after many weeks of speculation about the future of the elliott bay book company, i am now able to confirm that the book store will be moving to a new location on capitol hill in the spring of.
Rumor has it that cafe nervosa was inspired by the cafe in elliott bay books when it was located in pioneer square, so it tracks, kind of, that frasier and niles start their journey in pioneer. Hurt by the recession and ongoing issues in pioneer square, elliott bay book co. Pioneer square is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of downtown seattle, washington, usa. Elliott bay book company says business booming since move to capitol hill posted on monday, may 31, 2010 10. The new store will be at 1521 10th avenue, right next to oddfellows hall between pike and pine, and is expected to move in late februaryearly. Woodward interviewed many members of the trump administration for. There is a great feel to this bookstore, walls of books on wooden shelves.
The 18foot brick arches lead from 1st ave to nord alley. The bush recession, some negative experiences in pioneer square, a lack of parking and an overall lack of people flowing through made the bookstore business very hard. Jul 19, 2010 one of two things would happen when the staff at the elliott bay book co. The bookstore announced last night that its moving to a. Pioneer square is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of downtown seattle, washington, us. Trump in the white house on sale at elliott bay book company on. The early structures in the neighborhood were mostly wooden, and nearly all burned in the great seattle fire of 1889. Paul constant, the book editor at the stranger and a former elliott bay employee, his hearing murmurs on capitol hill that elliott bay has found a new home and will be leaving pioneer square. Oct 11, 2018 founded by walter carr in 1973, the elliott bay book company was originally located in pioneer square, one of the oldest parts of the city, at 109 main street. Supporters and workers applaud as the clock strikes 6, closing time at elliott bay book companys pioneer square location on wednesday march 31, 2010 in seattle. On june 29, 1973, walter carr opens elliott bay book co. The five bookstores include flora and fauna, david ishiis, bowie and weatherford, and the seattle mystery shop, at second and cherry, which puts it right at the edge of pioneer square.
With elliott bay books gone, pioneer square tries to shake a. It remained in the globe building for 35 years, expanding over time to accommodate author events and seattles first bookstore cafe. The cocreators of a zany live dinner theater company were skeptical when seattle architect ilze jones approached them about taking over the space where elliott bay book. Pioneer square and the globe building elliott bay book. The elliott bay book company is the seattle bookstore and, thankfully, survived its move from pioneer square to capitol hill with soul an. The legendary bookstore closed its pioneer square location on south main street wednesday after 36 years of operation. In fact, when elliott bay moved from its original pioneer square location to buzzy capitol hill, the familyowned book store grew and became even more of a local. The former elliott bay books space at the corner of first and main in pioneer square is getting a makeover and will become axis pioneer square. The fifth, elliott bay books, is in a class by itself.
In fact, when elliott bay moved from its original pioneer square location to buzzy capitol hill. Get to know seattles first established neighborhood, pioneer square, by walking its underground pathways as they existed in the 1890s in the company of a guide. Elliott bay pulled up roots from its iconic storefront in pioneer square earlier this year. Best bookstore in 2019s best of western washington viewers choice poll. To the elliott bay book company community i came upon this poem a little while ago and its given me a lot of comfort in recent weeks lending resolve on those despairing mornings, and offering a measure of calm in the multiple deep night panicked awakenings. Visit this link for the complete story the stranger. Elliott bay books needs to be on your list of places to visit on capital hill. Thirtysix years of history were ending for the independent. Aug 07, 2014 the space most people wondered about was elliott bay books former home at the base of the globe, a handsome, 1yearold brick building.
The developers are the owners of urban light studios in greenwood, kevin and julie law. Elliott bay bookstore is considering moving from its iconic 38year home in the citys historic pioneer square to a new storefront, the stores manager confirmed saturday. Elliott bay book company seattle all you need to know. Among the earliest white settlements was by the denny party at new york alki, which is in the presentday neighborhood of alki in west seattle, however after a hard winter they shifted across elliott bay near the presentday pioneer square, which became seattle. Founded by walter carr in 1973, the elliott bay book company was originally located in pioneer square, one of the oldest parts of the city, at 109 main street. With elliott bay books gone, pioneer square tries to shake. Get to know seattles first established neighborhood, pioneer square, by walking its. Elliott bay books leaves pioneer square the seattle times. Then, around 1998, it was sold to the third place books owners, who soon offed it to an employee, peter aaron.
Elliott bay, long a streetcorner staple in seattles pioneer square, is moving across the city to a spot where the rent is cheaper. Priced out of the original space as seattle boomed along with the tech economy, in 2010, the store. May 06, 20 the former elliott bay books space at the corner of first and main in pioneer square is getting a makeover and will become axis pioneer square. Amid the blues bars and rescue missions of pioneer square, seattles storied intersection of sports and booze, art and vagrancy, the elliott bay book co. The seattle mayors office is launching an effort to find ways to improve pioneer square. Opponents decry proposed 12story pioneer square building. Pioneer square and the globe building the elliott bay book. The elliott bay book company is surrounded by art galleries, eateries, fine restaurants, clubs. Sep 25, 2001 on june 29, 1973, walter carr opens elliott bay book co. I have found great travel, childrens and cooking books here. Elliott bay book company and cafe zen and the art of. The gorgeous facelift made us think all that was under all those books. In the last two months, ive read a lot of speculationsome thoughtful, some painfully maudlinabout what elliott bay book companys move from pioneer square to capitol hill will mean.
Used to be located in pioneer square, the elliott bay book company is the local bookstore for those who live on capitol hill. The shop was founded and expanded in its original pioneer square location. The associated press listed elliott bay as one of americas nine destination bookstores. After almost 37 years in pioneer square, iconic seattle retailer elliott bay book co. Im writing with overwhelming gratitude for the ongoing support weve received not just the orders and every order makes a difference in helping us get through the shutdown and out the other side, but also for the expressions of concern, encouragement and commitment to the welfare of the bookstore. Elliott bay hosts somewhere around 250 readings a year. Elliott bay book company seattle 2020 all you need to. Elliott bay book company says business booming since move. Jul 18, 2010 elliott bay pulled up roots from its iconic storefront in pioneer square earlier this year. Dec 16, 2017 elliott bay book company, seattle, wa. It is one of the largest new bookstores on the west coast. Nestled in the basement of the elliott bay book company is the elliott bay cafe. The elliott bay book company bookstore at capitol hill.
883 1462 1579 1349 53 1103 1045 1337 208 1166 888 1592 1051 31 1651 1306 135 1024 223 1293 908 578 233 1278 860 767 622 1328 250 762 928 530 175 703 777 878 459 1278