The BAIT x Brooks Chariot “Centennial” (Image: Bait)

BAIT in Los Angles via Facebook

At at time when independent Capitol Hill retailers are fighting to maintain their presence among a food+drink frenzy, one outgoing retailer won’t mean a net loss for neighborhood shops.

CHS has learned that BAIT, a Los Angeles-based footwear and apparel boutique, is planning to open its fourth location in the former Platinum Records space on E Pike. According to BAIT’s blog, they plan to open in Seattle on November 22nd.

BAIT specializes in street shoes, sneakers, toys, and apparel. We’re trying to connect with the owners to learn more about their Seattle plans. City records indicate the shop is well on its way to opening in the space sandwiched by Neumos and Via Tribunali.

UPDATE (11/20): BAIT’s Paul Baclawski said part of the company’s reason for expanding to Seattle was the 2012 closure of GOODS and the “sneaker-head” void it left on Capitol Hill.

“Expanding in L.A. is tough,” Baclawski said. “There are a lot of people who are fans of the sneaker industry here.”

To celebrate its move out of southern California and into Seattle, BAIT is releasing a custom running shoe along with the Seattle-based Brooks Running company. If BAIT’s description of the Brooks “Centennial Chariot” is any indication, they take their sneakers seriously:

Having reigned as one of the most popular runners of the eighties, the Chariot model was of choice due from the Brooks brand. The design of the “Centennial” brings a luxurious finish to the silhouette with a high-grade leather and pigskin suede upper. The rich combinations of navy, green, and red are inspired by Brooks’ heritage and the culture of its home city, Seattle. The off-white bone hue used on the logo and sole add an aged aesthetic as a nod to Brooks’ long-running history. Branding is kept to a minimum with tonal heat-debossing on the heel, the retro logo on the tongue, and BAIT and Brooks co-branding on the insoles. The pair comes with 2 sets of waxed rope and 2 sets of waxed flat lace options.

You can sign up to win a raffle of the shoe here.

In September Platinum Records announced it was ending it’s 20-year run as Capitol Hill’s DJ supply shop at 915 E Pike. Owners Scott McQuain and Ali Tabatabaie said they had lost their lease and were looking for a new location.

BAIT will join Fleet Feet Sports and 35th North on the Pike/Pine sneaker scene while skate fashion shop Alive and Well also gets in on the special shoe release game from time to time. In 2013, sneaker boutique Rock Paper Scissors shut down on E Pike while lower on Pike in 2012 saw the demise of street fashion shop GOODS.