The New Pioneer Square has an excellent interview with Elliott Bay Book Co owner Peter Aaron , discussing his possible move to Capitol Hill.
The main storyline is pretty similar to what we heard from Bailey Coy owner Michael Wells , steadily declining sales eventually reaching a tipping point where the store just can’t sustain any longer. And like Bailey Coy, Aaron says they don’t have the resources to expand online.
Surprisingly, Aaron says one of the main factors pushing them to move to Capitol Hill is parking, as EBBC would get 30 dedicated parking spots.
From the New Pioneer Square:
[Parking] is a huge factor, if not the main one. I walked around and conducted an informal survey of 25 different customers shopping in the Elliott Bay Bookstore at noon on a Saturday. Want to guess how many were actually from the neighborhood? Not one. One woman was from Chilliwack (Canada), and stops at the store every time she visits the City. Others were from Tacoma, Everett, Montana, California, etc. And they almost unanimously had the same response when I asked why they came to this bookstore. The reputation; it is a destination spot because they have friends that recommend it, or a mom who loves it, or they’ve come for years. Guess what else? They all drive to get here. Aaron has tried to work with numerous parking lot owners and the city to get dedicated parking spots for their store, but no one has cooperated. Not even the parking lot east of Occidental will work them. The city won’t even give them four small spots directly in front of the store.
The building Elliott Bay is reportedly eyeing has some parking in its basement and would also possibly utilize a nearby lot, according to this real estate listing page .
Not so surprisingly, another big factor in the possible move is the vibrancy of the neighborhood.
When I asked Aaron what it was about Capitol Hill that would help them be successful where they weren’t in Pioneer Square, he said that “the reputation of Capitol Hill is that it’s been revitalized and is vibrant. There are incredible retail and restaurant destinations.” Not to mention the streetcar that is coming soon (one block from where the EBBC might relocate). And even though it is five years out, Aaron said that “it’s something that will bring in even more business.” Aaron also said that “the bookstore wouldn’t just be serving the Capitol Hill neighborhood, but also 1st Hill and the universities in the area.” And although there is a healthy daytime population in Pioneer Square, there just aren’t enough locals that shop there. Just as parking, safety, and sports is the perfect storm for EBBC to leave Pioneer Square, parking, retail, and a dense Capitol Hill residential population are the perfect storm for them to move there (the good type of storm, of course).
The article goes on to say that “people go to the bookstore because of what it is, and not necessarily where it’s located,” which is certainly the attitude of Michael Steiner, an attendee at the wake for Bailey Coy earlier this week.
According to the post, EBBC is supposed to make a final decision within weeks, and they say chances are slim that they’ll remain in Pioneer Square. So unless they decide to close, it seems likely that we will soon be welcoming them to the neighborhood.
RELATED : Bailey Coy owner Michael Wells on the possible move
make this happen…Capitol Hill without a bookstore is like a margarita without tequila…unsatisfying and pointless.
Last time I looked (about a week ago) Half Price Books and Twice Sold Tales were both in business, were both on Capitol Hill and both had books for sale.
I’m curious if this will actually be a better street for the bookstore than being on Broadway, at least while light rail construction is going on. I also wonder how long they’ll want to have a bath house as a neighbor?
… It is little ironic to have one bookstore fail. Then, see another relocate to the same general area with great hope of success.
Elliot Bay has been my favorite book vendor for many years. A move to the Hill would be super. Let’s hope they can launch a buy local effort that works … many book buyers in a five mile radius of this store.
Interesting as some activist types on the Hill try to eliminate all parking, this business says they MUST have parking. Hear them. Hear them.
I agree about the parking irony, but let’s remember that this is a regional draw of a business, while many of Broadway’s small shops are almost exclusively local (during the day) and neighborhood serving, meaning that parking may be less important to them. I drove to the Tin Table next door for dinner on a Sat night and circled for 20 minutes for find parking, so this area of Pike Pine is really hard at certain times of the day to find parking. I am glad the building comes with spaces for him.
In terms of having a biz next to a bath house, um, it’s Capitol Hill! Pioneer Square has much more egregious stuff going on OUTSIDE than what Cap Hill has happening behind closed doors!
and while both are wonderful resources, both of them are USED bookstores…Capitol Hill needs a FIRST RUN bookstore as well.
1)uh, who advocates NO parking?
2)There’s plenty of parking on the Hill if you’re willing to either PAY for it in a lot, or park a few blocks away and walk…the problem is, most people are cheap and lazy…the same people who will drive around a suburban mall parking lot with plenty of parking for 15 minutes just to get a spot as close to the door as possible…
3)only the gays and the in-the-know straights will realize there is a bathhouse next door. I still encounter people who LIVE on the Hill who don’t know that there’s a sex club on that street. Most people are oblivious to the unobvious…like the tourists in Times Square who ate at Howard Johnson not realizing a notorious gay strip club The Gaity was upstairs…
One of the reasons I go to Elliott Bay Book Company is the gorgeous building. I think it’s just the right mix of form and function, with the chunky stairs, many different spaces, grotto-like reading space, etc… Unless the new space is just as yummy or yummier, or there is some other feature I am not anticipating (like maybe a cooler reading space) it won’t be as much of a destination for me.
The reason I haven’t gone much lately is just that I have had less cause in my life to go downtown. I’m not supporting it, so I can’t cry too loudly. But I’ll cry any way: Wah.
I certainly don’t welcome 30 free parking spaces worth of traffic constantly running up Pike/Pine. How out of character for the neighborhood. I do love Elliott Bay, but if their business plan is to become a suburban big box store with a giant parking lot, they really need to move to Tukwila or Northgate. They can’t have it both ways.
Don’t forget there still is the Quest Bookshop next to the Loveless building. Specialized, yes, but well stocked and an excellent resource if you are interested in spiritual topics.
Yes please come EBBC… true the free parking will create traffic which is a negative… on the other hand, cars looking for street parking create a lot of traffic also.
Andrew, don’t forget about Spine and Crown
http://spineandcrown.blogspot.com/
30 spots does not make for a big box store unless you live in a podunk town.
Having some parking would be better than having people circling the block unnecessarily.
I’m not sure you would notice a difference in traffic on pike/pine with 30 free spots either. Unless you think they are the only 30 free spots in the city.
Thanks for this story. Informative, great collection of information in one place.
http://www.pikepineproperties.com/900EastPine.htm
uh, some of y’all need to pay closer attention to what you read…EBBC is reportedly looking at the old DMX warehouse space behind the Oddfellows building. It has capacity for parking IN the building…and the interview above quite clearly says they are looking at leasing space in a nearby existing lot…nothing new is being built and there are plenty of lots on the Hill with 30 car capacity…it really isn’t a big deal traffic wise.
In no way, shape or form is this a “big box development”…basically, it sounds like it’s going to be the same old EBBC in a new, funky location with the added benefit of more parking opportunities for customers. Take a chill pill before you burst a blood vessel.
There are only four free parking lots on Capitol Hill with 30-car capacity – QFC on Broadway/John, QFC on Harvard/Union, Safeway on 14th/John, and Trader Joe’s on 17th/Madison. All of them create
pedestrian-unfriendly streets and drive car traffic down arterials. It’s MUCH different from a condo or workplace parking lot that most people only enter or leave once a day. It affects traffic similar to a new condo development building a paid parking lot 20x the size – a 600 space megalot in the middle of Pike/Pine.
Elliott Bay says “it doesn’t matter” where they are located, yet they are leaning towards damaging the Pike/Pine neighborhood by driving constant tourist car traffic through Seattle’s densest neighborhood. If it “doesn’t matter,” they should move to a low density neighborhood. They will ruin their good name by bringing all this car traffic
to a new free parking lot on Capitol Hill – people who park in the lot won’t even be able to shop at other Pike/Pine retailers from their lot. If they make this new free commercial parking lot to drive suburban car traffic into their lot, think of Elliott Bay the first time a pedestrian or bicyclist is killed by a car driver in Pike/Pine. Until then, boycott them until they change their mind.
In the neighborhood right next to Cap Hill lives a locally owned and independent bookstore – which I happen to have owned for the past 12 years. I know First Hill is not cool like Cap Hill – but hey, I won’t tell if you don’t tell. And during December mention this blog and get a 25% discount on your entire purchase.
We are a general bookstore driven by customer interests. We also stock local greeting cards and gift items. City Books is on Madison between Summit and Boylston just in case you want to check us out.
It’s Elliot Bay Bookstore not Walmart. I don’t quite see how they are going to pull in the thousands of murderous car drivers that the dumbass known as “Boycott Elliot Bay” thinks will start coming to the Hill. And, I wish they would fucking READ the above post and the interview with Elliot Bay. NO ONE IS BUILDING A NEW LOT OR STORE!!!! They are (potentially) negotiating to lease an existing building and an existing lot.
Okay the long term big picture is with light rail and street car, etc. The majority of tourists will take these modes up to EB because their various hotels, pensiones, friends, will let them know that’s the way to do it. Tourists used to riding buses around will continue to do so. In the short term, I don’t get the traffic issue. Right now, on a Saturday night – Pike is crazy with people and cars and you know what? Cars running up Pike and Pine has been part of the n’hood for awhile. That’s okay – there’s vibrancy and you work with what you have. ( I mean really folks. Have you given Kudo’s to the 12thPinePike businesses that have valet now?) We don’t have large bldg setbacks and doublewide sidewalks to work with. Honestly, most of the evening traffic is currently and ,will be in the future, related to the awesome restaurants we have in the hood. We could already use better signaling or something for peds on the pike xwalk. But really, I don’t get reaction to “suburban cars” coming in and mowing people down. Even on this blog a number of the ped/bike accidents have been “local cars” – i don’t care where the car is from, I don’t want myself or anyone else to get hit. The real issue will be “suburban cars” on weekend days, but again most of our awesome restaurants aren’t quite open. And have you been on the street where DMX was/is? Its much wider compared to the street where Neumo’s is. And trucks used to load stuff in and out of there. So it’s actually a better place to have underground parking than say under Atlas/Sweatbox. And honestly, couldn’t beloved Bailey Coy have used some of the Pike/Pine density foot traffic and the weekend restaurant interlopers as well? And to Jane of the unique space, do you go to Powell’s whenever you’re in Portland? Its hardly unique spacewise, but its a destination and the selection’s great and so are the people. That’s why so many people loved BC and why people love EB and I hope that you would give it a shot, even without the lovely creaky floor sound and barn/haunted house nook architecture and stairs.
Dear BoycottElliottBay,
First off: cite* or it doesn’t exist.
* = your supposed parking survey / study.
2nd: Fact / reality check: The two QFC lots you mention, Harvard Mkt and Broadway Mkt are pay / minimum purchase, not “free lots” so cut your informal survey in half.
Next: ElliottBayBookstore in its current home features a cafe and a bookstore that’s 2 stories deep and takes up half the block on 1st: they are about the size of a quarter-city-block. The 3 of the 4 grocery stores you mention have similar footprints / shopping area, so EBB considering 30 pkng spots would be in line with comparable retail business in our neighborhood.
Next: there are plenty of parking spots on cap hill – 6000+ according to anti-car/anti-parking writer Josh Mahar, so 30 are a relative drop in the bucket, not a scourge upon the pike/pine corridor.
Next: the spots aren’t NEW. They’ve in fact been there for quite a long time, serving other businesses in the precious PikePine corridor for years. In fact, not that it’s no longer a TRUCK SERVICE CENTER, I imagine the car traffic/car-related abuses upon the environment compared to years prior are quite reduced.
Next: what car traffic is coming up Pike or Pine? The Olive Way exit is closed. The access from Seatac / northbound 5 (and ergo I-90 too) is now Madison or Lakeview… far from bringing traffic up Pike/Pine. And southbound 5? Denny/Stewart brings traffic to broadway, not Pike/Pine. More likely EBB’s existing customers from outside the central core will come up 12th, or down from 23rd.
Then: you say “or drive cars down arterials”. Uhmm, that’s where we want cars!! ON arterials!! NOT on residential side streets (capillaries?) where they are more likely to hit an elderly man coming out of his condo or a kid playing in the street in front of her house.
Uhm and also: you wrote “a condo or workplace parking lot that most people only enter or leave once a day” Please show me this fictional workplace where people enter or leave once per day. I’d say Twice minimum. Do they not come Home from work? Not to mention the reality check that those grocery stores you cited all have employees on PT hours, entering AND leaving several times a day, not even counting work-related midday trips.
“seattle’s densest neighborhood” you mean Mentally? only cynically judging from your insipid comments could I call that true. Check the census. Check the seattle.gov site even. Capitol Hill does not
have the highest population density in the city, the census tracts in the south half of Belltown do. Get it right.
A “free” lot is never free: You pay for it somehow, (because the landlord charges for it somehow….) even if it’s snuck into the cover price pennies at a time. Don’t pretend we’re all too stupid to realize true free parking only exists in milton bradley world.
“Suburban traffic” won’t make up the majority of the traffic: it’ll be seattle residents still suffering in a city with half a rail line. At least first hillers and columbia city-ites will use the transit.
Finally: I cannot believe we have a blind NIMBYism on our hill. Locating wisely ON a rail/streetcar line is the Most Responsible Thing they can do to help the environment and encourage regular joes to use Sound Transit. If you can get that ass off your head long enough, you might realize that EBB deserves more love than any other business moving up here for NOT moving to a low density/on the freeway site.
I will hope for our sakes you are simply a jackwipe republican using ‘concern troll’ tactics to subvert the real progressive moves that pioneer square and cap hill are trying to accomplish.
If not, turn off the South Park and take a long hard look in the mirror, my moderate friend.
Hey, good point about Powells not being an interesting building at all, yet managing to be a great book destination down there nonetheless. I’ll still miss the creaky stairs at EB, but you give me heart.
Boycotting Elliott Bay Bookstore is about the most ridiculous idea I’ve heard this week.
(Try and play nice. We’d hate to hear you ruined the neighborhood).
So for book retailers: we’ve got Spine & Crown, TwiceSold Tales, Quest Bookshop, HalfPriceBooks, City Books (at 1305 Madison), and might I add Bauhaus, Seattle U bookstore on 12th, SCCC bookstore on Broadway, Travellers on E. Pine, Cathedral Shop at St. Mark’s & (for certain younger crowds) Izilla Toys. Pilot books is also alive and well, for the elite literatti. And Gamma Ray Games for the folks that like dice with their books.
And are Pistil (that went online), Fillipi, Fun Time Inc, Edge of the Circle & Multilingual Books still around??
Library-wise we’ve got the SPL Susan Henry, as well as the painfully unique ‘Zine archive at Richard Hugo House.