Elliott Bay Book Company, Book Larder, Eagle Harbor Book Co., and 6 more Washington independent bookstores we love.
By
Claire Dederer, Nasim Ghasemiyeh, and Kade Krichko
Alta
Is your favorite indie bookstore missing from this list? Fill out this form or drop us a line at bookstores@altaonline.com to let us know whom we missed and why they should be included. Visit altaonline.com/bookstores for frequent additions.
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BOOK LARDER
Book Larder
A mecca for cooks and readers alike, Book Larder has, for over 10 years, offered not just cookbooks but also classes and author events encompassing every kind of food and cuisine. Housed in a sunny storefront in the eternally funky Fremont neighborhood, the shop has a cheerful vibe that belies the extreme seriousness of the cooks who gather here. Seattle
Eagle Harbor is the center of activity on Bainbridge Island—supplying gifts for kids’ birthday parties, supporting book groups, and hosting book launches for the island’s multitude of well-known resident authors, including luminaries like David Guterson, Jonathan Evison, and Susan Wiggs. Eagle Harbor makes a great part of a day trip to Bainbridge, an easy and gorgeous 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. Bainbridge Island
The grande dame of Seattle booksellers, Elliott Bay anchors Capitol Hill’s Pike-Pine corridor with a cathedral-like, wood-lined, two-story space in an old warehouse. For decades, led by book-industry darling Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay has been the place where writers dream of reading from their work and readers gather to support and sometimes revere them. Seattle
Used bookstores come in all shapes and sizes, and, as with children, each one deserves our love. But there’s something really special about a used bookstore that is jam-packed with books and yet remains open, light, and airy. Pelican Bay anchors a street corner in maritime Anacortes and over the years has become a sunshiny hub of the main drag. Never have used books been shown to better advantage. Anacortes
Almost a decade ago, Tom Nissley bought Phinney Ridge’s bookshop with his Jeopardy! winnings and turned it into a small-but-mighty model neighborhood bookstore, choosing titles and creating gatherings that match his customers’ interests. Nissley is a gifted writer, and Phinney Books’ weekly email newsletter has become a must-read among booklovers all over the world. Seattle
Between its giant red building of winding, narrow aisles lined with tightly packed floor-to-ceiling shelves and a nearby warehouse dedicated to internet stock, Tacoma Book Center is home to half a million titles, including a plethora of technical manuals on a variety of subjects. Although most of these are destined for online sales, let the store know in advance and it’ll have a selection ready for in-person browsing. Tacoma
From cloth binding for infants to board books for toddlers to fully fledged chapter titles for young adults, Teaching Toys and Books has you covered for all your kids’ reading needs—and their playing needs, too. It has hundreds of toys for sale and a staff armed with knowledge about how each one operates. The store’s second location, Teaching Toys, Too, is in Gig Harbor. Tacoma
There are three branches of this wonderful retailer, all of which boast stock so lush that a reader is dizzied by choice. Seward Park is the newest addition, and it’s distinguished by a kosher restaurant, a bar, and a diverse and political community of readers and booksellers. Seattle
A three-story brick labyrinth in Bellingham’s historic Fairhaven neighborhood, Village Books and Paper Dreams is built for aimless wanderings and hyper-specific treasure hunts alike. Just blocks from the waterfront, it’s cozy and sea-breezy, and while you need no excuse to meander its aisles of books, maps, art, and Pacific Northwest history, most find a literary gem to take home. For even more options, check out the store’s second location in nearby Lynden. Bellingham
