Cities are built to break your heart.Īt the intersection of First and Main, looking south, is the Union Gospel Mission. The space is now an event hall, hosting weddings and receptions that last until midnight. After two years of having my own bookstore, Elliott Bay moved to Capitol Hill because of rising rent. I ignored their advice because I had a sliver of Seattle history behind one of my walls. It was fine during the day, but at night the neighborhood was considered a sort of rolling frat house due to nearby stadium events, nightclubs, and bars. Local friends hated the idea of my living in Pioneer Square. It was an incredible amenity, far more valuable than a parking space or a gym membership it was like having a library, office, coffee shop, and extra bathrooms as part of the package. Living at the Nord meant that I would share a wall with my favorite place in Seattle-and, in less than a minute, I could be there. I adore it, but the ultimate attraction was the prime location: It abutted the bookstore! Managed by Frank Nordquist, this modest structure was originally the Thompson Hotel, but Nordquist clearly earned his props during his raucous tenure, and the building was renamed after him. Erected in 1890, one year after the Great Fire, the Nord was once a single-room hotel for loggers, miners, and gold-rushers. There was an opportunity for a place in the historic Nord Hotel (the sweet, stumpy building in the photo above), which the developer claimed was the city’s smallest historic condominium at just seven units. It was a half-hearted choice, but the right one based on what happened during the real estate bust and subsequent recession.
In early 2007, I made the difficult decision to sell my apartment and leave New York. It was always the focus of my day during short trips. It was like the Strand in New York City, but without the congestion, dust, disorder, and people. , on the corner of First Avenue and Main. My absolute must-go destination each trip was the Elliott Bay Book Co.
It reminded me of my favorite Manhattan neighborhoods. I loved the bustle, the older architecture, the opportunity to eat, shop, and explore the waterfront.
Then I would proceed to my favorite neighborhood: Pioneer Square. I loved the city and had a routine for each visit, making daily treks down Jackson Avenue in the Central District and into the International District for lunch. I first visited Seattle in the late 1990s, when my sister moved there.
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