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Elliott Bay Opens in New Location

Elliott Bay Book Company celebrates its opening in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood today, starting at 4:00 p.m. with a Grand Opening Block Party. Two weeks ago, Elliott Bay locked its doors in Pioneer Square, after 36 years.


A work in progress: Elliott Bay's Capitol Hill location, just a few days ago.

A Seattle Times video on the Elliott Bay website documents staff ushering the last customers out of the Pioneer Square store, a champagne toast, and then the start of the move. Owner Peter Aarons also talks about the look and feel of the new location, which, theTimes noted, "retained some of its old-school charm with wooden floors and beams, and the same cedar bookcases it had in Pioneer Square."


Poets & Writers on Women & Children

In the latest part of its "Around Indie Bookstores" series, Poets & Writers magazine profiles Chicago bookstore Women & Children First and co-owners Linda Bubon and Ann Christopherson.

P&W columnist Jeremiah Chamberlin was full of praise for the store's atmosphere, as well as its literary reputation: "Several times during our conversation customers wandered over to chat with her and I was generously introduced. And more than once Bubon excused herself politely to help a nearby child pull down a book he couldn't reach. But never did these interactions feel like interruptions, nor did they ever change the course of our conversation. Rather, it felt as though I was simply a part of the ebb and flow of a normal day at Women & Children First. Nothing could have made me feel more welcome."


Montan Discusses the Future of Bookstores

The Press Democrat published an interview with Tom Montan, CEO of Copperfield's Books in northern California. Montan discussed his experience at the recent O'Reilly Tools of Change conference, how Copperfield's stores are adapting to industry changes, and why he still believes bookstores are essential:

"Every community may not need a bookstore. But every community may need what we are trying to be. We're about creating a place of connection in a physical space with people that share this need and want. Books are merely the point of connection. This is something that technology will not and cannot replace. You can buy the latest bestseller anywhere, at any time. The real factor that a bookstore provides is the sparkle and energy/excitement of sharing in a personal way."


Olde Town Collects Donations for Local Libraries

After local libraries lost their acquisition budgets, the co-owners of Olde Town Books & Tea in Oswego, Illinois, decided to National Library Week by organizing book donations for the Sugar Grove and Big Rock libraries. "Old Towne Books & Tea’s mission is to help promote literacy in our local and national communities," wrote Joe Guillemette on the store's blog.

Co-owners Guillemette, Mary Murray, and Leah Condon-Guillemette are offering prizes to customers who make donations, as well as a ten percent discount for any customer who buys a book to donate. The store has also attracted donations from several authors, and will be publishing a "Supporting Authors List" in the local newspaper.