Elliott Bay Book Co. — preserving literary landmarks

ELLIOTT Bay Book Co.'s departure from historic Pioneer Square is a huge blow to the soul of our city.

And an economic reality. The top priority should be preserving a locally owned and independent business.

Elliott Bay faces economic challenges not uncommon in the book industry.

But it is difficult to argue with owner Peter Aaron when he stresses that the store's long-term health and viability depend on relocating to a neighborhood with a larger reading populace. Between football games and pub crawls, Elliott Bay hasn't been selling enough books.

Undoubtedly the move will hit Pioneer Square hard. Elliott Bay has been a retail anchor and draw in the community for more than three decades. It is another setback for that area's revitalization efforts, which have had to combat everything from an earthquake to Mardi Gras riots to the loss of anchor tenant, NBBJ, the country's largest architectural firm.

The next steps are twofold: helping Elliott Bay toward long-term stability and redoubling efforts to build a stronger economic base in Pioneer Square. The two tasks are not at opposite ends. The city Office of Economic Development has come up with appropriate remedies for Elliott Bay including short-term financing options and technical expertise.

City Councilmember Jan Drago, a longtime Pioneer Square resident, continues to push for an appropriate mix of tourists and residents in the neighborhood. A lingering recession slows down efforts but ought not relegate them to the back burner.

A good example of a small but critical effort to infuse Pioneer Square with new energy has been the concerts and other public activities at Occidental Park. Once a place avoided by the public because of the large number of vagrants congregating on park benches, over the summer the park became a place to listen to music and enjoy the city's historic district.

Wherever Elliott Bay bookstore goes, local residents ought to take ownership of its survival. The public can attend at least one author reading this winter. Spend a rainy evening perusing the shelves designated for local authors.

Ultimately, the public can vote with its feet and wallets to help Elliott Bay.