Legendary Elliot Bay Bookstore Moving To Capitol Hill

Seattle's famous Elliott Bay Book Company will leave its spot in Pioneer Square for the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The bookstore had a sign posted Wednesday along with a message on its Web site that its moving to Capitol Hill in the spring of next year.

“While the thought, and the practicalities, of moving from the site and the locale which have been home for the past 36 years are daunting to say the least, I am convinced that this upcoming relocation will afford us the best opportunity to remain, and further develop as a thriving enterprise,” said owner Peter Aaron.

Their new location will be 10th Avenue between Pike and Pine in a building that dates from 1918 and was the original Ford truck service center for Seattle.

Aaron said the space will be a bit bigger and will incorporate a café and a room dedicated to author appearances. The building has its own parking below street level and will offer wheelchair access to all levels.

“The fact is that the business has been eking downward for the past several years, and the steeper decline of the past two years has made it clear that if the book store is to survive, it must be in a location that affords the vibrancy (especially in the evenings), parking, population base, and freedom from conflict with the sporting events-all of which characterize the new site,” Aaron said.

“It will be sad for us all to leave a building-and a neighborhood-that we have called home for all these years,” Aaron said.