Thursday afternoon marked the long-awaited grand opening of Elliott Bay Book Company’s new location in Capitol Hill. Although the store has been open to the public since Wednesday, today was the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and the community’s way of welcoming both Elliott Bay and its neighbor EveryDay Music to their new homes on the Hill. The local book store’s long journey to its new home has been rough yet rewarding, and CHS has been documenting all of the major landmark events, which you can view here.The entire block of 10th Avenue between Pike and Pine was blocked off allowing folks to mingle in the street to enjoy the music of local band Let’s Get Lost, sample tasty treats from nearby Capitol Hill eateries, and of course venture inside of the brand new book store. Cupcake Royale, Caffé Vita, Molly Moon’s, Rancho Bravo, Oddfellows, and the Aveda Institute were a few of many local businesses showing their support at the party.
During the ceremony, Elliott Bay Books owner Peter Aaron was full of thanks, first to the Capitol Hill community. He described the moving experience as feeling like “the new kid on the block, being a bit shy and a little bit frightened, and being welcomed so warmly, proving to [him] that this move to a community–a real community–is exactly what [Elliott Bay Books] needed.” Aaron honored his store’s new landlord, businessman Mike Malone, for giving him a “new lease on life,” and his staff for helping move the store in thirteen days.
In the midst of the ceremony, the two-story store was packed with people of all ages, baby strollers, and even dogs on leashes. Like the brand new books lining the store’s bookshelves, the store itself looked and smelled shiny and new. Even though the two-story store space is reportedly 10% smaller than its former Pioneer Square location, there is a back section that is still under construction, and the Elliott Bay Café that is set to open within the store soon. Stay tuned for more developments, and stop by the new Elliott Bay Books soon!
Please enjoy photos and a video of Peter Aaron’s speech below.
I kept thinking at the block party how great it would be close off 10th between Pike & Pine forever and make it a great pedestrian walkway between Cal Anderson and Pike.
Of course that would negate Elliott Bay Books’ parking, which is one of the main reasons they moved.
how about putting the cap hill farmers market there?? close it off every Sunday.
@ scoville
You can still close it to most traffic. There are plenty of spaces in European cities like that. Plaza du Theatre and Plaza du General de Gaulle in Lille are good examples (on much larger scales).
Level the sidewalks with the street, brick the whole block, and create a psuedo-lane for traffic to get to and from the parking garage. Also, leave open access for service vehicles.
Voila!
The Capitol Hill farmer’s market is already going to have a permanent home on the Light Rail Station Site on Broadway in the Nagle Street extension. However, designating 10th between Pike and Pine a festival street wouldn’t be a bad idea – Elliot Bay would still have parking most of the time and would enjoy a boost from the crowds the community events would attract.
@ wave
I love the idea of moving the farmer’s market to that street.