A sign of normalcy — and a sign of the times — Little Oddfellows, one of Linda Derschang’s remaining Capitol Hill joints, is making tentative plans to reopen Friday inside 10th Ave’s Elliott Bay Book Company.

Even one of the city’s longest running food and drink entrepreneurs is being challenged by the pandemic’s ongoing impact on the labor force. Derschang says Friday’s opening is pending last minute hiring including an assistant manager and a line cook.

While the cafe has remained dark, the Elliott Bay store has continued to serve customers through the pandemic and is now a union shop. Retail on 10th Ave has also gone through some changes. Macklemore’s golf fashion play Bogey Boys stopped through for a temporary stay before teeing off again in University Village. New era furniture retailer Joybird is lined up to take over the former Everyday Music space across 10th Ave. Last summer, Glossier restarted its global beauty retail ambitions with a new store on the street.

As for Derschang, she has continued to downsize her ventures on the Hill and beyond including 2019’s sale of Smith and 2018’s sale of Tallulah’s on 19th Ave E. In 2016, Derschang sold her “Northwest nautical”-themed Bait Shop to longtime Derschang Group admirals Mike Leifur and Jonah Bergman. She also moved off the Hill for a smaller, simpler condo downtown. Meanwhile, Linda’s continues to celebrate Capitol Hill milestones.

Derschang’s decision to reopen Little Oddfellows will please fans eager for its return.

The little cafe spinoff of big sister neighbor Oddfellows debuted in 2015 as a “little bit quieter” alternative serving diners and shoppers inside Elliott Bay. The legendary Seattle book shop reopened from COVID restrictions at first with “by appointment” only hours in August 2020 but Little Oddfellows remained shuttered. The small readerly cafe space is now ready to reopen its books and get back to business.

Little Oddfellows is located at 1521 10th Ave inside Elliott Bay Book Company. Check out oddfellowscafe.com for updates.

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