What might bring Elliott Bay Book Co. to Cap Hill? Parking, revitalization and streetcar

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