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 | American Association of Law Libraries 2003 Annual Meeting - July 12-16, Seattle, Washington AALL LAC 2003 Home > Explore > Bookstores |
Bookstores: Seattle’s got ‘em. And there’s no better way to get a look
into a city’s soul than by checking out its reading material.
If you are seeking the nearby and familiar, you will want to know
downtown locations of major chains. But, if you are tempted to venture
further afield, check out one of our city’s many independent bookstores.
The following guide to bookstores does not pretend to be complete. For
quantity, try the yellow pages or Google. This sampler is intended to
offer a neighborhood-by-neighborhood glimpse into the possibilities
and to invite you to explore at least one spot off the well-beaten
Convention Center path.
All phone numbers are in the 206 area code unless otherwise noted.
Familiar, reliable and nearby
Borders Books, Music & Cafe
Barnes and Noble Booksellers
DOWNTOWN/PIONEER SQUARE
Arundel Books
Located across from the Seattle Art Museum, Arundel carries
used art and architecture titles.
Beatty Bookstore
Used books.
Beyond the Closet Bookstore
Focus on gay lesbian bisexual, transgender subject matter.
David Ishii Bookseller
This small shop features used, out-of-print, and rare books,
including many which reflect the owner's interests in baseball and
fly-fishing.
The
Elliott Bay Book Company
In historic Pioneer Square. Features readings,
café, book clubs. The patriarch of the local independent book scene.
Flora & Fauna Books
Place to discover hard-to-find new or out-of-print
publications and art on all things plant and animal.
Left Bank Books
Specialties at Left Bank Books include progressive politics,
gender issues, and poetry.
Peter Miller Architecture and Design Books
Peter Miller Architecture and Design Books attracts
Seattle's design professionals.
Seattle
Mystery Bookshop
This shop specializes in new and used books
dealing with mystery and crime: cops, private eyes, amateur sleuths,
legal
thrillers, suspense and true crime. The store motto is "For Mystery
Lovers
Who Know What They Want, and For Those Who Haven't a Clue."
University Book Store (Downtown)
Neighborhoods
Queen Anne (Northwest of downtown; north of the Seattle
Center)
Queen Anne Avenue Books
Mountaineers
Headquarters
In addition to fiction and non-fiction for the
outdoors crowd, the Mountaineers, a local adventurers’ organization,
sells
guides, maps and technical literature.
Their guides are also widely available in local bookstores. In addition to book sales, their
headquarters features a library geared to mountaineering interests.
Capitol Hill (East of downtown; uphill)
Bailey/Coy Books
This Seattle institution was
recently sold by its founder to a longtime manager who has promised not
to
change the store’s character. The shop
is stocked with volumes on a wide range of topics. There's also a great
magazine section.
Chameleon
Chameleon carries rare and out-of-print books on art,
science, and the history of medicine, as well as Western and Native
Americana.
1108 E. Columbia St.
Seattle University is a private, Jesuit
university, established in 1891, which has since 1999 included a law
school.
The SU bookstore serves the campus
community, and the general public is welcome.
Magnolia (Northwest
of downtown, past Queen Anne)
Magnolia's Bookstore
This is a small general bookstore. In addition to a deep and
diverse collection, this neighborhood shop boasts beautiful views, a
quaint
village center, and proximity to Discovery Park.
Wallingford (North
and west of the University District)
Open
Books: A Poem Emporium
Located in the Wallingford neighborhood, Open
Books is a specialty bookshop devoted to poetry and poetry-related
titles and carries both new and used books.
Wide World Books & Maps
Wide World calls itself the oldest
comprehensive travel store in the U.S.A. It stocks guides, maps,
atlases, globes, language aids, travel accessories, convertible luggage, and travel literature. It is a great source for information specific to the Pacific Northwest. Simone A. Andrus, owner (and former librarian) offers any librarian mentioning the AALL conference a 10% off on their first visit to the store.
Fremont (North and farther west of the University District)
Twice Sold Tales ~ Fremont
One of three locations for this shop that specializes in
quality “pre-read” books. Also found on
Capitol Hill and in the University District.
Ballard (onetime
Scandinavian neighborhood, west of Fremont)
Secret
Garden Bookshop
After over 20 years as an all-children’s store, the Secret Garden Bookshop moved in April 2000 to larger quarters in the century-old Ballard neighborhood, and expanded to include books for adults. Children will enjoy walking on the “talking bricks” in their section of the store.
University District (Northeast of downtown, east of the
Freeway)
All for Kids Books and Music
Books and music for youngsters is the specialty of this shop.
Cinema
Books
Cinema Books concentrates on film, television
and theatre. In business for over 25 years, this specialty bookstore is
a
center for screenplays, film reference, technical film and video
production,
picture books on movie stars and biographies of film and television
luminaries.
Math 'n
Stuff
This store serves those who love math, puzzles,
and games - teachers, parents, home-schoolers, & students of all
ages from
under 1 to 113
Science,
Art & More
Not “just” a book store, this shop is a
resource for teachers, parents, students and backyard scientists looking
for
science projects, gifts and fun learning experiences.
University Book Store
(Main Branch)
University Book Store claims to be the largest independent
college store in the nation. Its main branch on University Way, just off
the
University of Washington campus, offers more than 170,000 titles,
including
Seattle's deepest selection of professional, scholarly, and reference
titles. A
smaller branch store in downtown Seattle offers a great selection of
books
along with Husky gear and gifts. The stores offer free shipping on books
to
anywhere in the country.
East West
Bookshop
800-587-6002
New Age interests from aroma therapy to yoga supplies.
Ravenna (Just north of the University District)
Ravenna Third Place Books
A newly-opened “branch” of the original Third Place Books in the
outlying community of Lake Forest Park, this shop includes new and used
books and is partnered with Honey Bear Bakery.
Wedgewood
(Northeast of the University District)
8050 35th Ave. NE
The Seattle Audubon Society involves volunteers
and the community in education, advocacy, preservation, science and
enjoyment. Bird and nature lovers of all ages come to the shop for books, games, puzzles, and other merchandise.
Madison Park (East of
the University District)
Madison
Park Books
This is a full service, independent book store
that offers informed booksellers, wrapping, mailing, out of print
searches,
children's story time and a terrific book discussion group.
It is located in a charming section of the city easily accessible by the #11 bus. There are interesting shops and restaurants in Madison Park.
West Seattle (Across
the bridge, west, from downtown)
Hullabaloo
Books
Located in West Seattle's North Admiral
neighborhood (across from the Admiral Theater). It carries a wide selection of books for children ages 0-16.
Maggies
Cookbooks
Maggie is a bookseller who specialize in
cookbooks, food history, and other books related to food and drink. She
also has
a range of gardening books. All dust jackets are in archival book jacket
covers.
Side Trips
The
Traveler
A travel book, map and accessory store located
on Bainbridge Island, a beautiful 35-minute ferry ride from downtown
Seattle. Store is located a 10 minute walk from the ferry terminal.
1210 11th Street
Washington's largest independent bookstore north of the Seattle
metro area has a homey atmosphere. It is set in the charming restored
historic district of Fairhaven, overlooking the bay on Bellingham's
south side. A scenic cruise up Chuckanut Drive (Washington's
Big Sur) will bring you into the Fairhaven district. Or take exit 250
from I-5 and drive toward the bay.
A note of thanks:
This compilation includes material
from the web, telephone directories, friends and book store owners who
belong
to the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association. A particular thanks to
the booksellers who took the time to
provide information.
1501 4th Avenue S.
622-4599
1501 4thAvenue
600 Pine Street
264-0156
944 3rd Ave.
624-4442
1925 3rd Ave.
728-2665
518 E Pike St
322-4609
212 1st Ave. S.622-4719
101 South Main Street
624-6600
800-962-5611
121 1st Ave S
623-4727
92 Pike St.
622-0195
1930 1st Ave.
441-4114
117 Cherry St
587-5737
staff@seattlemystery.com
1225 4th Ave
(See main store listing in University District section. The
downtown branch has less of the same.)
1629 Queen Anne Avenue
qaabooks@qwest.net
Open M-F until 8 pm.
Queen Anne Avenue Books, on top of Queen Anne
Hill, is just minutes from downtown Seattle and is a general interest, new bookstore with an uncommonly good selection of books.
300 Third Ave West
284-6310
414 Broadway Ave. E.
328-8842
514 15th Ave. E
296-5823
3206 W. McGraw St.
283-1062
2414 N. 45th Street
633-0811
4411A Wallingford Ave N
634-3453
888-534-3453
3504 Fremont Avenue North
632-3759
2214 NW Market Street
789-5006
2900 N.E. Blakeley St
526-2768
888-393-1161
4753 Roosevelt Way N.E.
547-7667
8926 Roosevelt Way NE
522-8891
6417 Roosevelt Way NE
524-3795
4326 University Way NE
6500 Roosevelt Way NE
523-3726
6504 20th Ave. NE
525-2347
523-4483
Russ Steele, Nature Shop manager: 523-8243, ext. 10
Open M-F 10-4
4105 E. Madison St.
328-7323
2350 California Ave SW
937-0599
6041 California Ave. SW Suite 201
933-5994
287 Winslow Way E.
Bainbridge Island, WA
98110
842-4578
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-671-2626
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