Tag Archives: retail

A backbone of a bustling bookstore: Bibliopole turned owner Tracy Taylor talks shop as Elliott Bay Book Company turns 50

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(Image: Elliott Bay Book Company)

Hall, Taylor, and Burgess

By Kali Herbst Minino

Today, staff at Elliott Bay Book Company will lift piles of books up and down the wooden stairs and replenish tall bookshelves for customers to wander through. Tracy Taylor, general manager turned co-owner of the store, continues to work alongside her floor staff as the group of booksellers restock the colorful merchandise celebrating Elliott Bay’s 50th anniversary. Having worked at the store for more than 30 years before purchasing it alongside Murf Hall and Joey Burgess last year, Taylor has been there through the majority of the bookstore’s half-century of history that started in Pioneer Square — and now is an even bigger part of its future on Capitol Hill.

The first time she submitted an application to Elliott Bay, she wasn’t hired.

“The person at that time didn’t hire me because they didn’t think I’d stick around long enough,” Taylor said. “I laugh about that now and say ‘I’m here just to show them that I could stay long enough.’”

Taylor moved to Seattle at the beginning of 1990 after getting a teaching certificate and working at an independent bookstore chain in Denver, the Tattered Cover. She moved to Seattle to pursue teaching, but her love for bookselling changed her plans.

A couple of days later, Elliott Bay gave her a call because the other applicant hadn’t worked out. Learning as much about the bookselling business as possible, she was mentored by the original founder of the bookstore, Walter Carr. Taylor eventually became a co-manager, and when Carr sold the business in 1999, she was offered a position as general manager. Continue reading →

Capitol Hill Rewind: Darryl Abrahms, a Broadway record shop empire, and a forgotten chapter in music rental (?!?) history

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Exploring the neighborhood’s record-shop history

The Broadway Record Centre ca. 1983 (Image courtesy Darryl Abrahms)

Darryl Abrahms and the original Bomb Shelter Records sign (Image: Todd Matthews)

Eighty five miles separate Capitol Hill from Ashford, Washington, a town situated in the Mount Rainier foothills and populated by roughly 500 residents. For one of those residents, Darryl Abrahms, a Capitol Hill connection is contained in two banker boxes stuffed with photos, promotional materials, and a few dozen record albums dating back more than 40 years, when Abrahms owned a small monopoly of neighborhood record shops — The Record Library, Broadway Record Centre, and Bomb Shelter Records.

The shops were located at 112 Broadway E, across from Dick’s Drive-In in the Broadway Arcade, which was razed years ago and is now the site of M2M Market, Broadway Connection, and the Capitol Hill Light Rail Station.

“There was this culture on Capitol Hill—a lot of people were dressing goth or punk with spikes,” Abrahms (formerly Abratt), 71, recalled during an interview in May at his Ashford home, a small cabin with an upstairs loft-turned-office, where he keeps all the documents and ephemera from his record store days. Abrahms agreed to meet as part of my ongoing interest in exploring Capitol Hill’s music-related history.

“People in the area were music lovers. At that time, there was a severe economic recession. There were days when Broadway seemed desolate with empty shopfronts. Many people found comfort, inspiration, and even joy in listening to music. I’m glad that I was able to contribute to this.” Continue reading →

The mall? Pike/Pine? Or both? Two big name retailers quietly flame out on Capitol Hill

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Frankie4 in shinier days (Image: Frankie4 Shoes)

Believe it or not, there is corporate calculus going on in the world that goes something like this: Should we open our U.S. flagship store in the hip and vibrant neighborhood of Capitol Hill — or University Village?

CHS brings you this revelation as we catch up on the reporting about two instances where that calculation quietly flamed out after shiny starts in Capitol Hill retail.

Recent weeks have brought the demise of two fashion retailers that settled on the Hill but couldn’t ultimately make a go of it in the neighborhood. Continue reading →

Indian grocery store Spice SPC now open on the edge of Capitol Hill

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Indian grocery store Spice SPC has reopened after its move from its original home just off Rainier Ave to just off E Madison.

“We are a social purpose Indian grocery store which I believe is the only SPC Indian store in the area,” Aditya Bajaj tells CHS. “SPC is recognized as a corporation to pursue profits and social good in WA state. We care about our customers, communities, and suppliers.”

And, for those of you wondering where the border falls, Bajaj considers the north of Madison location as Capitol Hill.

Continue reading →

Capitol Hill’s ‘last bike shop,’ Velo lived through the evolution of Seattle commuter culture

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(Image: Velo Bike Shop)

By Mary Murphy, UW News Lab/Special to CHS 

Velo Bike Shop has closed after serving the Seattle bike community for 55 years. Ten years ago, it left Capitol Hill. The shop’s lease was up, and after serving the bike community for decades, owner Lloyd Tamura is retiring.

“Seattle had this huge bicycle renaissance in the ‘70s in the ‘80s, and Velo became a real institution on Capitol Hill,” Tom Fucoloro, founder of the Seattle Bike Blog, told CHS about the bittersweet milestone. “They will forever have a very solid place in bike history.”

Founded in 1968, Velo started its journey at an abandoned gas station in Madison Park, renting bikes for people to ride around the University of Washington, Lake Washington Boulevard, and the Arboretum.

The store became so popular that after some time, Velo was able to open up multiple locations in Capitol Hill, the University District, downtown, West Seattle, and later South Lake Union.

Happy Bike Everywhere Day: Friday May 19th is Bike Everywhere Day with events and stations lined up to greet riders across the city. Seattle Bike Blog has the 2023 BED map here.

In the ’90s, Lloyd took over the family store, and Velo Bikes consolidated into one location: its well-known storefront in Capitol Hill at 11th and Pine where it was open for 27 years.

Velo later made the move to the South Lake Union neighborhood in 2013, for reasons concerning their building’s lease and the growing property rental rates in Capitol Hill.

During the time of Velo’s move to South Lake Union in 2013, Seattle created a mass increase of biking infrastructure downtown. At the same time, companies like Amazon, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and Google were booming in the South Lake Union neighborhood.

Velo Bike’s journey tells a broader story about the evolution of Capitol Hill and Seattle’s ever-changing biking culture. Continue reading →

Make some ‘outdoorsy friends’ — Gearhouse and its Basecamp Cafe are now open on Capitol Hill

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Evan Maynard’s Gearhouse commute just got a lot better

Its Basecamp Cafe is established on Capitol Hill’s E Thomas just off Broadway and Gearhouse is now ready to outfit you with the equipment you need for a Pacific Northwest weekend. It is celebrating with a grand opening Thursday night.

Come join us to celebrate as we launch a summer of adventure with Gearhouse. We’ll be making coffee drinks, pouring beers, and serving apps from our new cafe, Basecamp. Gearhouse and Basecamp Cafe is your third place for finding outdoorsy friends.

CHS reported here on Capitol Hill resident Evan Maynard’s plans to bring his growing outdoor gear rental and community company to his home neighborhood as Gearhouse marks its first expansion from its South Lake Union birthplace.

Now a short walk from the former Blue Origin rocket engineer’s Capitol Hill apartment, Maynard and his team hope to help new members turn “a chore into a social experience” with the 2,800-square-foot Gearhouse’s mix of rental equipment, organized hikes and outings, education, and its overhaul of a shuttered cafe/retail experiment from AT&T into the new Basecamp Cafe and hangout with caffeine and beer and plenty of space to bring your laptop. Badger Coffee is ready to serve members — and anybody else who wants to hang out or get some work done in the new cafe.

Its opening joins another in the neighborhood outdoor gear space. Need some outdoor fashion for your trip? Windthrow is newly opened with outdoor apparel and accessories just off 15th Ave E.

At Gearhouse, membership provides access to the gear library which can be rented piecemeal but can also be curated based on what adventure you have planned. Maynard says Gearhouse is set up to provide personalized recommendations and gear packages — describe an adventure you’re about to take, and they’ll recommend a gear set to suit your needs.

He says the model helps members have a better time exploring the outdoors and the sturdier, higher quality gear keeps people from churning through disposable alternatives that end up in the trash. Continue reading →

Location, location, location — Retail Therapy celebrates 20 years on Capitol Hill

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Retail Therapy’s Wazhma Samizay

(Image: CHS)

By Kali Herbst Minino

Near the corner of Pike and Broadway, there’s a two-story shop displaying colorful clothing, a unique candle selection, cards with character, dazzling jewelry, and creations from independent artists. The shop, Retail Therapy, has watched Capitol Hill evolve for the last 20 years all while never changing location. Owner Wazhma Samizay is celebrating the milestone.

Samizay moved to the neighborhood almost 30 years ago, and recalls the store’s location as a part of Capitol Hill that hadn’t really developed. Retail Therapy emerged from that opportunity, its support for independent artists setting it apart from other businesses at the time.

“Part of it was the opportunity to do something and support my actual neighborhood that I walk through and live in,” Samizay said. “When I started, there really wasn’t that many spaces that had independent artists being featured. Now two decades later everybody is doing it.”

The store was originally brick-and-mortar and had operated that way for over a decade. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Samizay created an online store alongside the physical shop which was open with a limit on the number of people allowed in at a time. In addition to the online store and physical limitations, a tab on the store’s website titled “Look Out for Eachother” contained an extensive list of resources for anyone struggling during the pandemic.

As for business on E Pike, Samizay says it has been doing better than it was during the pandemic, though she wouldn’t call it a recovery.

“Having done this as long as I have, I’ve learned to ride the roller coaster. There’s always ups and downs, it’s best not to get off the ride while it’s still moving,” Samizay said.

There are also new neighbors.

Continue reading →

‘I know there has to be black artists in Seattle’ — Black Arts Love amplifying art and bringing community together on Capitol Hill

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Malika Bennett knows Capitol Hill, and after a Howard education and ten years in the other Washington, it’s time for this Capitol Hill to know her. Growing up on the Eastside and in the Central District, Bennett took off with the Running Start program at Seattle Central during high school and got to know the neighborhood well.

Her Black Arts Love — “a welcoming community space that is inclusive to all that support our mission of amplifying and uplifting black artists” — is now open in the 400 block of E Pike.

While in her masters program in D.C., Bennett found community in arts spaces. Busboys and Poets, a local restaurant with a bookstore, gift shop, and open mic, inspired Bennet with how they represent local creatives. “You have got to find something outside of work to keep up the balance, and for me, it was going to open mics.”

Eventually, Bennett got involved with the Emergence Community Art Collective, found a mentor, and grew her inspiration into action by producing her own events. “It was just wonderful how it all came together. Everybody was having such a good time. I mean, it just warmed my heart, it was really healing. Just the collaboration, the connection, the positivity, the creators and seeing all of their beautiful art and creations and products that they handmade, or even just businesses that are popping up and they were there to promote their business. It was incredible.”

Bennett moved back to Seattle in 2014, finding work as an administrative assistant at Harborview. Becoming frustrated with the helplessness she felt in the face of police violence and other issues facing the black community, she felt called to build community through art. The creation of Black Arts Love, which aimed to support black artists and creators in the community, helped focus their energy.

“I had this dream”, Bennett told CHS. “It was this blueprint of a whole bunch of black leaders that were all top of their field. They were using their talents to come together. And there was this blueprint of what we could do to help our community. And so I woke up and I said, Malika, what are your talents? And I realized, well, I’m good at event planning and good at PR. I’m good at marketing. I love art. I love creativity. I find the arts to be very healing at the same time.” Continue reading →

Still rising, Capitol Hill’s Phoenix Comics celebrates its 10th anniversary (and 11th Free Comic Book Day!)

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Nick Nazar

Capitol Hill’s Phoenix Comics and Games is marking 10 years on Capitol Hill this May as a staple of the comics and queer communities, offering a safe and inviting space for people of all backgrounds to enjoy comic books, board games, and collectibles. Saturday’s Free Comic Book Day is only part of the celebration.

“It’s been fantastic. It has been a lifelong dream come true. And the way Capitol Hill has really opened itself to me has been amazing,” Nick Nazar tells CHS. “We started 10 years ago not really sure if this was the right place or the right space. And you know, 10 years later, not only are we still here, but we’ve expanded. We’re continuing to offer our events and services to the Hill, and we get people from all over.”

Nazar attributes the success of the store to its status as a queer-owned and operated business that provides a community space for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“We have a community space that is open to everyone. There’s no charge to use it, just a request at the moment for masking in the space itself. And we do our best to welcome the queer community and to be out there helping people,” Nazar said. Continue reading →

In a neighborhood with REI roots, Windthrow part of new expeditions in Capitol Hill outdoor retail and community

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(Image: Windthrow)

“NOT VERY FLEXIBLE but enjoying this beautiful planet we get to live on. Happy Earth Day,” Windthrow says

By Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero

This summer, trails around the PNW will be crowded with Capitol Hill hikers — if new ventures like Windthrow have anything to do with it. The new gear shop just opened its doors at 15th and Harrison, aiming to build a community hub for outdoor lovers at the top of Capitol Hill.

Windthrow owner Nate Hoe is setting out to merge retail with community building by selling high quality outdoor apparel and accessories and create a fun, safe, space for people to hang out and exchange ideas. Growing up in the outdoors and with a background in outdoor fashion, he is starting the hike with gear he knows well, curating a selection of brands from across the globe to provide gear that mixes style and fashion with performance and functionality.

“Almost everything I carried was stuff I already loved before,” Hoe said.

Windthrow is part of another club — new outdoor ventures on Capitol Hill. The neighborhood’s REI history seems to be repeating. Just off Broadway, Seattle outdoor gear rental and community company Gearhouse is preparing for an opening this month in founder Evan Maynard’s home neighborhood. Gearhouse has grown as “Seattle’s only social club for outdoorsy people” with a unique mix of hiking, camping, and adventure gear rental, events and education, and community. Gearhouse is planning a May 18th grand opening on E Thomas near Braodway.

Building community has also been the driving force behind Hoe’s vision of creating an outdoor gear shop. The most rewarding part about his experience has been seeing people’s excitement when they walk into the store and the support he’s received from the community. Continue reading →