Independent Bookstores: Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle

When we walked into the store, I knew right away that this was a good one. The books extended as far back as I could see, with carefully curated selections on every endcap, handwritten staff recommendations dotting the wooden shelves, a coffee shop in the back and an upstairs whose low ceilings made it feel like a treasure-filled attic.

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Amazon's First Brick-and-Mortar Store

A week ago in Seattle, Amazon opened the doors to its first real life bookstore. It’s a curious move, considering the online giant’s founding goal was to offer more books for sale, and at lower prices, than any brick and mortar could possibly offer. 

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