The new Elliott Bay

Every city should have at least one great, independent bookstore. Ironically, Seattle, the home of amazon.com (which has done more harm to indy bookstores than any other company) has a large collection of fantastic little book sellers catering to every possible niche. But the undisputed crown jewel of Seattle's literary scene is the Elliott Bay Book Company. It's the place to go to get recommendations from well-informed staff, get a feel for what's going on in the world of books, and see lectures & readings from every major (and many not-so-major) author.

Despite being much loved, Elliott Bay has been going through financial troubles - mostly because of its location in a tired, out-of-the-way neighborhood called Pioneer Square. Earlier this year they announced that they were moving in an attempt to regain firmer footing. Everyone was weary, because the old building was an integral part of the Elliott Bay experience: a cozy but labyrinthine maze of small rooms connected by half flights of stairs, blind corners, and dead-end hallways. It was easy to get a little bit lost, which was definitely part of the charm.

We spent this afternoon browsing at the new location on Capitol Hill, a much more vibrant neighborhood that will undoubtedly produce more traffic for the store. I'm happy to report that the new store is excellent - a fitting replacement that doesn't disappoint. Although the layout is much more open (high ceilings with thick wooden beams and even skylights) the overall feel of the place is familiar. I think that's because they brought all the old bookshelves with them: thick, sturdy wooden shelves that, combined with the books, make the place smell gloriously like a lumber yard. The cafe (obviously an essential part of the experience) doesn't open for a couple more weeks, but once it's there the transition will be complete - and with the soul of the place still very much intact.