While we’re talking Capitol Hill business rumors, the Slog is kicking around a juicy one:

There is a rumor buzzing around small business owners on Capitol Hill, and the rumors are remarkably similar: They say that literary institution Elliott Bay Book Company is going to close its Pioneer Square store and move to Capitol Hill, specifically to 10th Ave, between Pike and Pine, right next to Oddfellow’s Hall.

CHS is poking around to see what we can do to either confirm or deny the speculation but don’t have much to advance the story. We did find out that the 10th Ave property where Elliott Bay is rumored to be starting its Capitol Hill chapter is going to be available for a new tenant starting December 1:

Built in the 1930’s, this building was originally a Ford Truck service center then held various garment manufacturers through the early 1980’s. Since that time it has served as the Distribution Center for DMX Music (formerly AEI Music Services, Inc).

Retail and commercial space will be available for tenant improvements December 1, 2009. Located in the heart of the Pine/Pike Triangle on Capitol Hill; 17,000 square feet.

Capitol Hill also is already home to a handful of independent bookstores though nothing on the scale of Elliott Bay’s 22,000 square feet of book retailing space in Pioneer Square. The Pioneer Square location also includes a a cafe and performance space.

This July 2000 Seattle Times article lays out details of the ownership team behind Elliott Bay. CHS has e-mails out to EB’s owners.

Elliott Bay’s immigration would be another in a series of businesses moving to Capitol Hill from other areas of the city. While it’s a positive sign for the Capitol Hill local business environment and a boon for Cap Hill shoppers and diners, too many more of these and we’re not going to be very popular with the rest of the city’s ‘hoods.