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Categories: Bookstores, Newspapers & Magazines
Neighborhood: Pioneer SquareMon-Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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Ok I had to catch my breath in this place, I love a truly great indie bookstore as I happen to work in one of the best. Elliot Bay far exceeded my expectations, they have a great selection of books, their layouts are an adventure in itself. Headed straight for there Children's section, there's a little castle in the center I wanted to crawl into and read books all day. Next I headed to their cookbooks, saw some great ones, then headed to their travel loft (oh yes), some great travel and essay books there. This place has been around for a while, the creaks make you feel like your on a pirate ship or something - pretty cool. Although the staff doesn't seem to approach many people, they seem very nice and are always available at their info desks. Elliot Bay also has a great cafe downstairs which I didn't have a chance to go to but sounds amazing.... when in seattle go to Elliot Bay!
In the end walked away with a great childrens book, another from their bargain section (amazing!) and a novel from their (indie publishing section).
As those big box book stores slowly (?) take over the publishing world its always great to come across a local book store that still believes they can survive and have the clientele to make sure it happens.
Selection: Pretty much anything you want without the wasted space those other stores use for last minute gift items you forget to buy at a "real" store.
Things to do: They are always having authors do readings and special events.
Bonus: The EBC downstairs. See my review (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) on their cafe which only makes the bookstore even better! Happy reading. Enjoy!
I hate to kick a man when he's down but I've got to be honest. I was in the area so I stopped in for a minute to look for some thank you cards, stave paper and intro music books. 0 for 3. That's a strikeout. I realize those aren't necessarily typical "bookstore" things but I found all of them in about 5 minutes at Barnes and Noble. Being independent is good; being just plain good is even better.
Seems to be fine for things off the bestseller list and in a touristy kinda way but it certainly didn't do it for me. Which is unfortunate because the space is really interesting with the different levels and wonderful wood. I would be interested to see what goes in if/when they move out.
Elliott Bay Book Company is your standard independent bookshop. Well-packed and organized with wall-to-wall paperbacks, hardbacks, magazines, novelties and stationary that makes them seem refined. Yet still spacious enough for everyone to freely roam.
Every time I go to Elliot Bay Book Company there seems to be new favorites that must get my undivided attention. This occasion were the map magnets, an astrological cookbook and a seashell identification guide. Preferred choices may vary with persons, and are subject to changes due to new book/product releases.
So if you have a passion for reading or just need to get something like spur of the moment, they have some unique finds, which are sure to please.
Otherwise, just be a patron to the basement cafe. It's cool too.
Enjoy this while you can. My daily commute for 8 years has taken me past (and into) this place many times, and while you can get a bigger selection online (and better prices), you'll never get the browsing experience, and won't get the immediate reward on finding a treasure. Don't miss the used section, either.
I love, love, love this bookstore!
Seriously, I want to move to Seattle just so I can go here on a regular basis. Nothing in San Diego, my hometown, comes close.
Think mountains of books set in corners, rows, rooms and enclaves. Thousands of selves adorn brick and wood walls, on multiple levels.
The Elliot Bay Cafe below the bookstore is UH-mazing! Great coffee drinks and fresh baked goods. Warm, inviting lighting and spacious hard wood tables. Excellent study, reading or meeting space.
The staff was super friendly and refreshingly corky. This place was the highlight of my 5 day trip to Seattle & Vancouver BC. A must if you're in the area!
I hope you fall in love with Elliot too, there is plenty to go round!
I could get lost for days in here... I love bookstores more than anything, and Elliott Bay Book Company satisfies my diverse reading tastes.
Yesterday we wandered around for over an hour looking at travel, cooking, fiction, camping, biography and children's books. We ended up purchasing way too much.
My only complaint about this place is how ridiculously tiny the used book section is. It's ittty bitty, especially in comparison to the rest of the bookstore! I took a wander around and couldn't find anything I wanted. I would like it if there were more.
The coffee shop downstairs is the coffee shop in Frasier (thank you to my Ride the Duck Captain - Captain Rocky for telling me that). I had to go down and check it out (as well as use the bathroom), it definitely looked familiar, but didn't look quite as cozy as it did in Frazier. The bathrooms are fab! I mean who else has a table in your stall that you can put your purse on?
Elliott Bay Book Company is what a bookstore should be: large, has both new and used books, includes a large variety of topics. It looks and feels and smells like a book store that's been around for a long time.
And I really like their basement cafe that is super roomy and has a good selection of tea.
Ok, I know, taking a date to a bookstore probably sounds pretty boring, but if you happen to have a date that remotely enjoys reading, you'll love a day at the Elliott Bay Book Company. Think of it as an art gallery of books where excellent conversation starters are around every corner. As one of the largest independent book sellers in the nation it has to have variety! This is a great place for a date whether it's you first or your 100th date, but it's especially good for those early dates as the store itself makes for conversation.
At the corner of 1st Ave S and S Main St. in Pioneer Square this building fits right in with its old world charm. On the inside you'll find exposed brick and those creaking cedar wood floors that will probably remind you of your grandparents house (at least, that's what it reminds me of).
Now down to business. This is a great place for a breakfast or lunch date. Just as an FYI, despite the fact that the cafe is in the basement, you have to enter through the main front doors in order to really get a feel for the place. I'd recommend going straight for the food upon arrival. Once you meander down the stairs you'll be greeted by the smell of pastries and coffee. All entrees are about $6 and, for the most part, worth every penny. The menu isn't large and neither are the portions, but the ingredients are fresh and the specials usually have a smattering of the exotic. My trusty standby is their Grilled Cheese. I'm a sucker for goat's cheese, Italian fontina, and red peppers (yes, red peppers!). Jocelyn has had the Moroccan Steak, which seemed to leave something to be desired, and ebc's House Made Granola, which she loved! If you're just looking for a good cup of straight black coffee, I'd recommend that as well.
TIP Guys, the cafe is a "pick up your own food" and "clean-up after yourself" type of place, so this is a great opportunity for you to show you are thinking about your dates wellbeing. Grab extra napkins, get the utensils she needs, grab her food when they call it, get her a cup of water from the "serve yourself" stand, and clean-up when you're done. All of these gestures will go a long way. They say "I'm not a slob and I'm thinking about how to make your day more enjoyable".
Now that you've both filled up on food it's time to start the book wondering. I'd recommend going straight to the main floor, in the second room, and then up the stairs to the bargain section...or just ask someone where the bargain section is. This is a great opportunity for silence (a good way to take the pressure off). Just browse through the books. Being in the bargain section you'll find a myriad of topics and a lot of conversation starters. When I was there, one of the first books that caught my eye was one about pedestrianism (if that's even a word). No, I'm not kidding, but it was a great book to pick up and ask "what is this about" and share it with my date. You'll find yourself talking about your family and what they might like or just your favorite topics/interests. This can go on for a long time, but at some point it helps to find out what genre your date likes and wander to that section. Bonus! You learn something about your date and it doesn't have to be an awkward interview.
If you eventually get bored, there are a lot of other activities within a few blocks. Magic Mouse Toys is just a few blocks up the street and, if your date is in touch with their inner crazy kid, you can browse through the store playing with everything. I love the flying monkeys! You'll know what I mean if you ever visit. For those looking for something a bit more "mature", the New Orleans Creole Restaurant always has live music and is also just down the street on 1st Ave. Enjoy and happy wandering!
For more go to http://www.seattledati...
Bookstore I am happiest to browse in all of Seattle.
oh, what a charming bookstore! my favorite part of the store are the creaking floors that make you feel like your walking through history.
great selection, but i wished they had MORE used books.
This bookstore was one of the reasons I first fell in love with Seattle. I love how it doesn't feel like a Borders or a Barnes'n Noble. There's a great selection of used and new books. I love the Staff Recommendaitons wall and the tabs that are attached to books throughout the store telling you why you should read that book. I love that it seems to be a prerequisite to be a book lover to work there. People who work there seem to genuinely be knowledgeable...not like at the big chain book stores. I love the old antinque-y feel of this place. I can easily spend a whole day here...whenever I enter this store, I just feel so happy. Definitely one of my FAVORITE places in Seattle.
4.5 stars, let's be clear about that.
One of the big draws to this area of town for me is Elliott Bay Book Co...with it's undeniable charm (read: squeaky wood floors and that dusty/musty smell of your grandmother's forgotten library), the friendly and helpful staff, and great book readings (I saw Gary Vaynerchuk here!), it's hard not to be enchanted. You're more likely to find books of an indie nature here than, say, Barnes and Noble, so I wouldn't suggest going in with a mission - I'd suggest wandering in and browing the titles and sipping a coffee downstairs in the cafe. You're going to have a much more enjoyable experience than if you come in intent on finding that ONE title you MUST HAVE NOW.
But seriously, a great bookstore and some seriously awesome staff.
The single thing I miss most about working in Pioneer Square is Elliot Bay Book Company (Grand Central being a close second). Some of my favorite reads of all time were purchased on a whim from this store, thanks to their always-wonderful staff picks and smart displays. I just love everything about this place. I love the way the wood floors creek beneath you as you reverently tiptoe around the books; I love the friendly, helpful staff.; I love the way it smells, musty and papery and homey. Sigh. I wish I could go curl up in an aisle with a stack of new books right now.
Since I moved and now work in the black social dungeon that is the Eastside, I haven't been in here lately, but they used to have some sort of frequent-buyer reward system. I think if you buy 20 books, you get $25 in credit or something. Thanks to classic NES (not enough syndrome, to the layman), I never leave here spending less than $40.
If you have a few quiet hours to yourself and love to read, this is where you want to go. It's a bookworm's dream come true.
Maybe this is my favorite independent bookshop in Seattle. It's the only one that really competes with, and trumps, Books & Books in Miami.
After receiving a call to let me know that I'd gotten my old job back this morning, I drove to the Elliot Bay Book Company to celebrate by purchasing a couple of books. I love this place. I love the way it makes me want to read. I love the staff and the aesthetic and the hand-written notes that are the staff recommendations. I could wander around this shop for hours. I'm sure I have, at least once.
The cafe, which was pretty great to begin with, looks fantastic now with all the changes they've put in.
I love you, Elliot Bay Book Company. If you had a hand, I'd hold it while looking at the top-notch mystery and sci-fi sections.
my only five star review: one can quibble with whether it's due to my arbitrary nature or that this place is just that outstanding. I'm hopeful it's the latter.
I have been buying my books here for years. I LOVE the wall of books with staff reviews attached. some are very au courant; others are recent reviews of mainline and indie classics. Toward that end, I picked up The Magus by John Fowles last week, due to the incredibly enigmatic review appended thereto. All I can say is that I agree completely with the reviewer's comments--and still feel a deep ambivalence about the book and ending. I will be back to read more of the reviewer's picks.
Snobbishly, there are very few strangers I would trust to give a decent book review, or, a dependable one. I've not yet been disappointed with the reviews at EBB. In a similar vein--I picked up the Satanic Verses many years ago, and one of the staff people suggested that I read Rushdie's review of The Wizard of Oz. Completely bizarre little series of books that I never would have stumbled on in a million years--but thanks to the consistently excellent staff of this store, I happily read both.
also, there is a great discount book area upstairs. I was going through this bizarro Lorca phase a few years ago, and picked up 3 volumes for under $10. last--the book card where you get $20 off your next purchase after you spend $200--sweet deal.
If you love books (hear me, book nerds!) you should go. I love the individualized reviews of the books and the decidedly "Seattle" flair of the place. However, the selection and variety is a little lacking and dated.
Tiny - but I think important - example: While gawking away at all the reviews (incredible!) I gravitated to the "Staff Recommends" wall. After a few minutes, I was disappointed. The staff had reviewed "The God of Small Things" (old news) and another book that was required in my high school English class (sorry, forgot the title). So why were they being reviewed? I intentionally went to the staff wall to see NEW picks. I don't want someone's old "Best of" list. I want fresh books, hot off the press! I know this is probably part of Elliott Bay's "against the grain" approach, which I respect, but I would like to see recent books.
My bf, also an avid reader, wandered around for half an hour before meeting up with me again. Interestingly, he had the same thoughts: Great, old bookstore (and by all means, this place should be preserved for decades more!) but with a somewhat limited selection of books. In fact, both he and I noted that we had never been in a bookstore in which we had read so many of the books! So something's going on with management. Lazy, maybe? (Or maybe we're just great readers? ;) Also, we were hungry but wanted something more substantial than soup and salad.
If I was manager of Elliott Bay, I'd keep everything the way it is, with the exception of two things:
-Serve substantial food downstairs, and ALLOW books down there. I understand the fear of ruining the books, but hello, Barnes and Noble even allows books into their coffee shops! Coffee and books go hand in hand! So this just comes across as odd.
-(Most importantly) Give the staff a selection of relevant, brand-new books and ask them to read and review one once a month
This place seriously gives the book nerd in me a big ol girly boner; and it would last the entire time I could spend getting lost in all the nook and crannies here...I'm talking hours
HOURS of nerd boner heaven.
Literary heaven!!! With over 125,000 books to chose from, this book new & used book shop cannot be beat. It definitely puts Borders to shame. I was able to find books on anything and everything I could possibly think of.
Even if you're not a book-eater like me, one can appreciate the design alone of the building. It's one of the only places in the area left that still uses it's underground. (This makes it about 3 stories tall!)
A must visit place, whether living or traveling through Seattle.
Just what a bookstore should be. Elliott Bay has graphic novels and comics, an extensive fiction section that digs deeper than the NYT bestseller list, zines, a great children's section, and nice atmosphere (high, packed-full shelves, wood floors, big windows up front, helpful staff reviews all around).
I'm down with any place where I can get a hardback Dave Eggers book for $11. One star deduction for far proximity to several decent coffee places and those who carry vegan donuts. Fuck Starbucks. The perfect Sunday morning means reading comics while drinking good coffee and eating donuts.
I love this bookstore. I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said.
A bookstore that has employees that actually read, know books and writers... is a bookstore that is worth it. The atmosphere is wonderful, its like a hodgepodge with creaky floors and piles of books. They don't mind me sitting back for awhile and reading before I buy a book- or don't as I've had some independent bookstores (generally much smaller) that get snooty about my sitting back and reading. The place is rather large, its worth taking some time to explore, but I've also found its good with when I am just running in to get something specific and I don't want to search all day. I can find it, or their staff knows not only where it is- but what it is. I HATE bookstore clerks that haven't read anything in their life but manga or something....
I will say in the winter they should try to heat the building a bit more, my last trip in was quite a cold one. Also for its location in a big city the used books section is small... then again what good look loving person likes to give a book away....?
This place is enormous and full of a wide variety of books in every description and price.
Check out the upstairs mark down area-very good prices. No one seems to care if you sit and read thru the titles either. Great tradional vibe here without being stuffy or snotty.
Huge cookbook section A++
Normally, chain retailers are decimated by the holiday rush and have useless clerks roaming the store unable to find their own ass with a map. So thank goodness for independent book stores like this. I recently visited Elliot Bay right after Christmas and found aisles and aisles of books from every genre and decade. New, used, bargain, and rare books are hard to find all under one roof and Elliot Bay did not disappoint in any regard.
One thing I always look for in a book store (or record store for that matter) are the staff recommendations. It's hard to remember everything that's recently published that I want to read, let alone find something new I wasn't expecting. Any bookstore worth it's own salt will have a staff that reads as much if not more than it's customers. The people who work there have great taste and were well-versed in subjects I wanted to know more about.
The atmosphere of the wooden floors, endless stairways, the full service cafe (I recommend the cheese plate w/ a glass of wine) all make this a great afternoon experience.
one of my fav bookstores in the USofA. its a real bookstore, with wooden floors and staircases. the floors are fabulous bc they squeak when u walk on it. i love that sound. the store doesnt have as much variety as others ive been to, but this bookstore is charming. and everything smells delicious inside bc theres a cafe in the basement.
My favorite bookstore in Seattle. Hey, I'm just happy that this city HAS indy bookstores...growing up, my hometown didn't have ONE! Not even a chain. (Yes, I was a deprived child. Thanks for asking!)
Back to Elliott Bay -- I love the old wood floors, the smell of new books, the super-cool displays and hand-written staff recommendation cards. If I lived closer to P-Square, I'd be in here every damn afternoon just to browse a new section.
I went to a reading here about a year ago, and the downstairs space was great, homey and really comfortable. A perfect place for it. :)
Unfortunately, I don't find myself down this way way often enough anymore. I think this needs to change, don't you?
The basement coffee shop looks like a dungeon, but the upstairs bookstore looks like... well a neighborhood bookstore. You know, a little bit of homey in contrast to the sterile Borders or BN. But what BN and Border lacks in flavor, it makes up through availability. This place has lots of books, but they didn't have one by Matheson that I was looking for. I don't care if Frasier used to come here! I want my darn book.
Three stars!
I could live in here, or at least spend 5 hours amongst the tomes.
It has that fantastic "book store smell" to it, if you are a reader you know what I mean. I love that smell.
I love that it isn't some generic Barnes and Noble Mass marketed piece of crap. It has style, character, and substance.
Plus they have a used section, I can definitely afford used. Otherwise I have to go to the place that shall not be named here.
This is my favorite bookstore on Earth. I visit every time I go to Seattle (which is about twice a year).
My favorite new bookstore in Seattle (new books, not new store; the used section isn't bad either, but doesn't compare to some of the real used bookstores around the city) and one of my favorite indie bookstores in the nation. The atmosphere is great and it's so fun to browse through the different rooms and areas. The selection is also top-notch, though the prices make this Omahan wince a little, especially when you add on Washington's high sales tax.
Lately, I've especially come to appreciate the nice little kiddie area. I can grab a few books to look at on the way in, deposit my two year old in front of the nice, toddler-accessible display of board books, and let her read to her heart's content while I read to mine, without worrying about her ripping pages or causing other damage. She'll stay occupied for more than an hour (I've timed it) before she starts losing interest and trying to move on to other shelves with more delicate books. It's great! She likes the castle, too.
I went here yesterday and I am still in awe with this place!
This bookstore is one of the bookstores you can only seem to find in movies- the wood floors, endless shelves of books-a melange of old and new, the non-commercial signage, a reading room, super helpful and friendly staff; but apparently there's one here in the heart of Seattle- wish I came here sooner.
This may possibly be my favorite bookstore ever. The enormous brick-walled building somehow manages to feel warm and cozy despite its size. Something about the interior brick, wood floors, and simple wooden stairways makes a space that could easily feel warehouse-y come off more like a lovely, book-filled barn. Moving between the seemingly infinite book collection, the space doesn't feel too tight or too expansive. If I were Goldilocks, I would have to proclaim this place juuust right. The books are stacked up high along the walls, and the shelves that jut out into the open rooms invite you into their literary maze with friendly displays of staff-recommended reads. Weaving in and out of the aisles of books or climbing up into one of the loft areas gives the impression of being tucked away in a secret attic, full of mysteries to unlock.
The children's book section here is lots of fun, with a mini castle that little readers can crawl inside to read or play pretend.
Elliott Bay hosts an impressive series of book signings and author presentations. Be sure to look over the monthly newsletter when you walk in and check out who might be appearing next. If you missed a recent presentation by one of your favorite authors, check to see if there are signed copies of their latest works on hand. These are usually up front, and are marked with a sticker on the cover.
In addition to the brand-spanking-new hot-off-the-presses versions, used books can be bought and sold in the large back room. This includes some great vintage tomes as well as your contemporary lit and basic paperbacks.
There is something for everyone here, and if you can't find what you are looking for, the friendly staff will happily order you up a copy. If you plan to make a return trip, be sure to get an Elliott Bay reward card when you check out! The staff will stamp your card based on the amount you spend. Every $10 spent gets you a stamp, and once your card is filled you are the lucky recipient of $20 off your next purchase! As if you needed another reason to go back.
One caveat: If you're looking for a place to pull up a chair and grab a bite to eat or a warm drink while you dive into your new reading material, I do NOT recommend the basement coffee shop inside the bookstore. I have been repeatedly disappointed by the food here. It's fun to walk through there and get the whole "Seattle underground" experience, but after that novelty wears off (about 30 seconds), head back up to the surface and go across the street to Grand Central Bakery or up to Zeitgeist at 2nd and Jackson.
*Note* This is a review of the Cafe downstairs
Ordered the 1/2 grilled cheese (chedder, provolone, swiss with multigrain bread) with wild greens (vinagerette dressing) for 3.75 (6.00 if you chose a whole).
You really can't beat the price, but the food was quite bland, the place felt like a dungeon, and I felt out of place as most everyone else was grey or balding (which isn't bad.. just sayin'). The service was friendly and there was free water available.
I am tempted to come back to try the vegan chilli (black/red/pinto beans w/tomato, onion, carrots, corn,red bell pepers served with corn chips for 4.50 for a cup (or 5.50 for a bowel. I hestitate however due to other bad reviews on the chili.
Due note, they carry vegan Mighty-O donuts here (but none of the minis). Better some then none at all.
Some great rare books, the staff is helpful and knowledgable and the readings are great. I've seen two in the past year and I'm clearly headed toward dementia because I can't remember who either of the readers were but I do remember I enjoyed them! The downsides are the prices, but you get what you pay for call it 4.5 stars.
Feel free to call me retarded...I got lost in here. Hopefully there is a book called "How to Survive if you are a Dumbass Loser and get Lost in a Bookstore."
I need to study speed reading so I can get through all the books I currently have and then buy some from here.
Most impressive.
Zipzap Zubidy Bop!
I never buy anything here since I rarely leave the hill and usually go to Twice Sold Tales or Bailey-Coy, but I give this place 5 stars because when I want to entertain out of town relatives or friends, this is the first place off the hill I take them to. Their readings and author signings are pretty cool and the cafe downstairs gets props for having vegan pastries sold.
I also like how big the bookstore is. Granted, I cannot compare it to Powell's since I have never been there, but I like that people are not shoulder to shoulder to each other and there are little nooks and crannies were you can read for a few minutes without feeling like you're in someone's way.
This place is an old Seattle classic.
I love going here and being here.
Each time I find way too many books to buy. I go infrequently because I am nto a go-downtowner type of person. The author talks are very popular and informative.
I have had times needing information and also bus info help and the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable.
Thanks
this is where my first dates usually started or ended in college, especially when I was into the beret-wearing sort. I actually had a boyfriend whose pinky finger extended when he drank tea or espresso- and he looked even more emo with a book from Elliot Bay in his hands!
I have been trying to find a book for years that is out of print and although they weren't able to help me, unlike other stores in its genre, mr. Elliot was able to at least recogize the book and point me in the general direction... Still looking though.
Finally my favorite thing to do here is sneak surreptiously into the children's section and cry quietly while taking a walk down memory lane. Shel Silverstein anyone? Anyone?
I'm a bookstore fanatic. That's part of the lure that drew me here to Seattle in the first place. I consider myself a bit of a book store connoisseur and feel like I know a good book store from a bad one.
That all being said, Elliot Bay Book Co. is probably my FAVORITE book store of all-time. A good book store has not just a good eclectic selection of books (new and used), but it has an aura of its own. A mood or ambiance that feels like it makes you want to be around books. Like you want to sit down with a nice cup of coffee and read.
Elliot Bay has all this. I think what really helps is the wood construction. The nice creaky wooden stair cases and such. It just "feels" right. Not to mention, they have not just a built-in Starbucks (like the chain stores), but their own full cafe downstairs where you can get lunch and a latte.
A+++ for Elliot Bay Book Co.
When I first moved to Seattle, my favorite uncle (who's name I adopted as my stage name, 'Randy') impressed upon me how important it was that I take a journey into the Elliot Bay Book Company. He was an artist, philosopher, musician, opera singer, and taught history to post-high-school community college kids in Thousand Oaks, CA. Everywhere he went he visited museums, book stores and music stores, and everywhere he went he wore bright red socks and loudly colored shirts, and usually a funny little hat.
The man was brilliant. And not just the colors he wore.
He was also hysterically funny. I remember sitting around the table on birthdays or holidays or just random weekends that he and my favorite aunt, who also happened to be his wife, (her name is Martha, but I didn't adopt her name as a stage name. I'll consider it if I ever do a tranny show though, I promise) would show up to visit, and laughing so hysterically at his jokes and antics that someone would invariably choke, spew their beverage all over the table, or at the very least cry with laughter until their sides hurt. The man had wit. He had a joke or a play on words or something clever to say or a funny story for any occasion. Whether we were at the art museum looking at art or hiking in the woods near Thousand Oaks (where he lived), he was always full of stories, knowledge, jokes, you name it.
When I finally made it into art school, I remember sitting with him discussing philosophers like Nietzsche or Sartre, artists, movements and art theory, psychology and sociology. It seemed like there wasn't anything he didn't know about, and he was able to help my poor peanut of a brain grasp a lot of the really off-the-wall stuff.
And why? Because he read. The walls in his house were covered in books. He had that study you dream about having one day, with the big desk, the leather chair, bookcases stacked with books everywhere, an old sword hanging on one wall, a map of medieval London on another, a half finished painting in a corner.
But the books... man... the books. Not just for show, I'm pretty sure he had read every single one of them, some of them multiple times.
And some of them came from the Elliot Bay Book Company, which has a fantastically huge collection, and some really helpful folks who can help guide you to what you're looking for. I've gotten a few here. Nothing I'd brag to my late Uncle Randy about reading, but hey I'm reading.
Long live the independent book seller!
At Elliott Bay Book company its actually cool to be a book geek.
The employees REALLY love their jobs and know about books.
Unlike other bookstores where you wonder if they can read.
This one of my favorite places to get lost in. I like to meander aimlessly through the stacks with fuel (coffee) in hand. and forgo thinking about the concept of time. I wander through the oasis of books amazed there's enough books for some of the odd sections I encounter.
I saw there were adjoining condos for sale. How cool is that? You could pretend that that the bookstore was your home library that you graciously opened to the public. Oh think of the authors you'd meet and the book discussions you'd participate in.
I know, I live a rich fantasy life.
Take in a author reading or join a book club, but support your local independent bookstore. So you may pay a tad bit more but think of it as a cause marketing effort to preserve this landmark bookstore for generations to come.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: University District
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Downtown
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