25 Years Ago Today

Pistil Books & News opened its doors to the public for the first time on November 17, 1993.  Our retail store was a former garage on Pike Street in an area that was in transition from "Auto Row" to retail and other businesses.  Cafe Paradiso had opened up in the same block just a couple of years earlier.  The Wild Rose, Seattle's only lesbian bar, anchored the corner, The Comet Tavern was nearby, and Ronnie's Upholstery occupied the basement of our building.

Before we opened, Sean and a hired carpenter constructed our eight and ten foot high bookshelves.  Friends helped us varnish the shelves, and we laid our flower mosaic entry way floor (which is still there today-- the space is now occupied by Bimbo's Burritos).

Carpenter Evan and Sean preparing to lay the mosaic flower floor.

We have saved our cash register receipt from our first day.  We made $120.25!  25 people visited our store that first day, and we sold a fair amount of classic fiction, including The Little Prince, A Wrinkle in Time, Shakespeare's Complete Works, and The Catcher in the Rye.

The average price of books sold our first day in business was $2.56.

Amy outside our storefront way back when.

Photos from Pistil's 25th Anniversary Party and Reading

We had a party at our home on Saturday celebrating the release of Rebecca Brown's new book, Not Heaven, Somewhere Else, as well as Pistil Books' 25th anniversary.  We had a great turnout of friends old and new, food, drink, cake, readings by Rebecca Brown and Stacey Levine, and music by cellist Lori Goldston.  

Rebecca and Chris with the wondeful cake Chris baked featuring writer puppets like Virginia Woolf and Shakespeare.

Stacey Levine reading from her book in progress.

Lori Goldston.

Rebecca Brown reads from Not Heaven, Somewhere Else.

Socializing after the readings.

Kam emceed the event.

Pistil Books' 25th Anniversary, Book Release Party, and Reading

Pistil Books' 25th Anniversary, Book Release Party, and Reading

Readings by Rebecca Brown and Stacey Levine

Music by cellist Lori Goldston 

 

Rebecca Brown will read from her new collection of stories, Not Heaven, Somewhere Else.  

PEN/West Fiction Award winner Stacey Levine will also be reading from her work.

 

Books will be available to purchase.

Saturday, October 13

RSVP to pistil@speakeasy.net

and you will receive an email with address and time on the day before this event.

(Space is limited to 40 people, with 25 chairs, rest standing/sitting on floor.)

 

You are invited to bring a beverage and/or snack to share.  We will have cake!