Elliott Bay to Move to New Location in Spring

On December 9, owner Peter Aaron announced that Elliott Bay Book Company would be moving to a location on Seattle's Capitol Hill in the spring of 2010.

In a letter on the Elliott Bay website, Aaron expressed some sadness about relocating the store from Pioneer Square, where it has been for 36 years, but said that the move to the vital new neighborhood "will boost our business to the level necessary to maintain our commercial viability."

The new store, slightly larger than the current one, served as Seattle's original Ford truck service center. "While no space could exactly duplicate the charm of the original store, I can promise that the new building will offer a warm, comfortable, and cozy environment that will be true to the beautiful place Walter Carr founded on Main Street," said Aaron. The new Elliott Bay will have a caf and a dedicated events space. The store will also have a fir floor, similar to the Pioneer Square store, "complete with creaks" and a high wood ceiling with skylights. The Capitol Hill building has its own parking below street level.

Since he first became involved in the ownership of the store, 11 years ago, Aaron said, he has sought to be a "faithful steward in preserving both the spirit and the body of this unique place." Of the support Elliott Bay has received from within the Seattle community, as well as internationally, he added, "I'm inexpressibly grateful for that ongoing support -- and most especially for the outpouring of concern and commitment we've received in recent months."

Updates on the progress of the move will be posted on the Elliott Bay website.