I sat down and talked with Michael Wells this morning about the closure of his bookstore, the future of the publishing industry, and the changes he's seen in Capitol Hill in his 20 years with Bailey Coy.

Connection to Capitol Hill
Michael explains why Bailey Coy couldn't have existed in any other neighborhood, and how being on Capitol Hill affected Bailey Coy.

Changes in the publishing industry
Michael discusses the changes in the publishing and bookselling industries, which he says started about 10 years ago with the arrival of big box bookstores, and amazon.com.

Why Bailey Coy is closing
Michael explains why Bailey Boy couldn't hold on any longer, and responds to a CHS commenter that said he was stuck in the 80's, agreeing that he should have done more to move into the online space.

Changes in the neighborhood
Michael discusses the changing retail climate of Broadway and Pike/Pine, impact of the redevelopment currently underway in North Broadway, and the growing sense of community in Capitol Hill.

History of Bailey Coy
Michael tells the story of how Bailey Coy came to find it's home on Broadway, and how he ended up acquiring the store in 2003, after working there for 14 years.

Courtney Love
"Michael, there's a 6 foot tall drag queen out here and I think she's stealing books"

Elliot Bay Book Company
Michael explains why he hopes the rumors of Elliot Bay moving to Capitol Hill are true.

Pilot Books
Michaels thoughts on micro-independent bookstore Pilot Books, which recently opened near Bailey Coy, and where it fits into the future of bookselling.

Wake

Michael talks about his plans to hold a wake, to mark the end of Bailey Coy.

Some shots from last night's party at Revival.  It drew a good size crowd, even though it was raining.

Revival Home & Garden, a Georgetown transplant retail operation, has completed their move just under two months after initially announcing it.  Here is your opportunity to welcome them to their new digs on 12th Avenue.  They will occupy the COHO building, adjacent to Northwest Film Forum.  Revival is having a housewarming party this evening from 5:30 - 8:30 pm complete with cupcakes and drinks - feel free to stop by and wish them well.

Babeland, 8 Limbs Yoga Boutique, City Home Store, Emerson Salon, Lavender & Vine, Rosebud Restaurant & Bar, Stitches, Triple Crown, Feed Bag, Throwback Northwest, Retail Therapy, Veridis, Kaladi Brothers Coffee, and B-Bam are all joining together to benefit Northwest Harvest.  Stop by any of these retailers - they are offering special discounts July 17, 18 & 19.  You can receive additional discounts by bringing in non-perishable food items to any of these venues.

Some sample discounts:

• Emerson Salon (CHS sponsor) will be giving 10% discounts off cut and colors. All services get an additional 10% discount with donation of non-perishable food
• Babeland has a 20% store-wide sale and will provide an additional 5% discount if you bring in 5 cans
• B-bam (CHS sponsor) is only open Friday but is offering 20% off store-wide and will give you a free t-shirt if you bring in 5 additional cans

Here is the full list of East Pike Street Summer Sale participants and offers

More weekend fun on...

City Stimulus's goal is to support local small businesses.  Local vendors have crafted special offers for City Stimulus members.  Membership to City Stimulus is free.  Seattleites can go to the City Stimulus website and sign up to receive your membership card via email.   For each $10 spent, members collect one stamp. 10 or more stamps from participating businesses gain the cardholder 10 extra raffle tickets and an opportunity to earn cool prizes at the City Stimulus Closing Party & Raffle.

Participating Captiol Hill merchants and offers (valid from 7/12/09 to 7/18/09) include the following.

• Anchovies & Olives – enjoy three (3) complimentary Oysters on the Half Shell with minimum food purchase of $25
• Babeland – 15% off Sunday-Thursday.  A free Silver Bullet with purchase Friday & Saturday.
• Blue Bottle Art Gallery & Store – 20% off any purchase
• Caffe Vita – 10% off all products
• Captain Blacks – Captain’s Tea (a sweet tea vodka lemonade) for $6 all day and night
• Dinette – Lounge Happy hour all...

Envy Grows, a store that sells plants, pots and patio furniture, plans to move to the space next to Anchovies & Olives in the Pearl mid-July 2009. Envy Grows' owner Jay Longtin agreed to answer a few questions from Capitol Hill Seattle about the planned move:

About me... Well, I’m 29 years old. I’ve been in Seattle for 5 years now. I moved here from VT with a friend. It was just time for something new. I’ve been with my partner, David, now for a little over 3 years. When I was a child I remember my Mom having a bunch of plants in the house. I think that may be where it all started. But when I moved to Seattle, I just started collecting again. I have well over 50 plants in my house... Over 100 now (all the plants from the CD store are now in my house until the new space is ready). The plant store just kind of happened. I had always talked about having a plant shop, seeing how I manage to keep all the plants in my house alive and well. So when I hurt myself (nothing major anymore) I decided to stop doing...

Just spoke with Mike DeLeon (of Hope Art fame), who confirmed that the Anne Bonny is moving into where No Space currently is at Summit and Mercer.  Mike DeLeon works for photographer Spike Mafford, in his studio just down the block from No Space.  DeLeon also said that No Space is not going anywhere, and that they might do more showings “if Anne Bonny leaves or something.”  Not sure exactly what that means, but it sounds like they might be sharing the space for now.  Whatever is happening it sounds like No Space is not necessarily gone for good.  

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Up on Broadway, it looks like The Fire Grill Portugese BBQ is closed, judging by the fact that they weren’t open today at 1PM, and the pile of bricks just inside the front door.  They’ve had a “for lease” sign up in their window for a couple of weeks now.  I went in there a week or two ago and the guy at the counter confirmed that they would be closing, but said they didn’t have a firm date for when their last day would be.  I asked him why they were closing, he said “nobody comes in! we lowered prices, but still nobody comes in.”  I only went in that one time, lured by their Hamburger and Fries for $4.

One more random note... in the retail space next to Rom Mai Thai (currently being renovated) there was a sign for a while that said "DREAMCATCHE,"  don't know if that's the name of a business going in there or what, the sign isn't up anymore.

Signs went up recently in the windows of the pie slice-shaped corner of The Pearl apartment building on the corner of 15th and Madison.  JSeattle asks on Twitter, "Heard there's a new biz license posted on the Madison-side retail space in the Pearl. Anybody know what's joining Anchovies & Olives?"

The answer:  Planning to open in Spring 2009 is Healeo, "your neighborhood nutrition bar." Ok, so it's not another pizza joint.  Rather, Healeo will offer "organic ingredients in delicious drinks, foods, vitamins, and supplements." I'm skeptical vitamins and supplements can ever be delicious, but the color scheme sure is cheery.  

The stretch of Broadway between Republican and Harrison generally has near 100% occupancy.  Yesterday I noticed that the storefronts on either side of Gruv -- STA Traval and a Chinese restaurant whose name I can't remember -- very recently closed and it looks like Gruv is expanding into STA. 

p.s.  While we're on the subject, in my best Seinfeld voice, what was the deal with STA Travel?!