A Bright Spot for Book Lovers: Queen Anne Book Company in Seattle
- bbelcastro5
- Aug 15, 2025
- 4 min read
Seattle, Washington
July 10, 2025
Sometimes the best bookstore discoveries happen in neighborhoods that feel like they could be small towns unto themselves. That's exactly what I found when I visited Queen Anne Book Company at 1811 Queen Anne Ave N, nestled in the heart of Seattle's charming Queen Anne neighborhood. This independent bookstore has been serving the community since March 2013, when they opened following the closure of the previous bookstore that had occupied the space since the late 1980s – proving that sometimes when one literary chapter ends, an even better one begins.
A Store That Celebrates Its Community
From the moment I walked in, it was clear that Queen Anne Book Company takes pride in both their neighborhood and their carefully curated selection. The store is beautifully organized with clear labeling and thoughtful layout that makes browsing a pleasure rather than a chore. Staff recommendations are prominently displayed throughout the store, creating a sense that you're getting insider knowledge from people who genuinely love books and know their customers' tastes.
What immediately caught my eye was their celebration of local connection. At the front entrance, they featured a special selection of Blackwing pencils honoring Bill Russell, the NCAA and NBA champion – a tribute that speaks to Seattle's sports heritage. They also stock
notebooks specifically featuring Queen Anne Hill on the cover, alongside a lovely collection of postcards designed by Seattle artists and printed locally. These touches show a bookstore that understands its role as both a literary destination and a community anchor.
Personal Connections and Passionate Recommendations
The employee I encountered exemplified everything wonderful about independent bookstore staff. When I wandered into the children's section, she immediately began pointing out different areas and highlighting picture books written or illustrated by local authors. But then she did something that made this visit truly special – she shared a deeply personal book recommendation.
She told me about "No More Chairs," explaining that the middle school featured in the book was her own former middle school, where she had taught science for ten years, and that the teacher character in the book had actually been her boss. Her enthusiasm was so infectious that I found myself quickly reading through the book right there in the store. The message about inclusion was so powerful and relevant that I knew immediately I had to purchase it for my own school. This is exactly the kind of serendipitous discovery that only happens in independent bookstores, where staff members aren't just employees but passionate readers with personal connections to the books they're selling.
More Than Just Books
Like the best independent bookstores, Queen Anne Book Company offers more than just their excellent book selection. The interior space is bright and cheery, with well-lit areas, bright walls, and light wood furnishings that create an inviting, airy atmosphere perfect for browsing. They carry quality items like Moleskine journals and decomposition notebooks, and their travel section was notably well-stocked – perfect for a city that attracts so many visitors and residents with wanderlust.
One detail I particularly appreciated was their display of framed posters featuring book covers alongside signed notes from authors who had visited the store. It's a wonderful way to celebrate the author events they host and create a visual reminder of the literary community they've built. These touches transform a retail space into something that feels more like a neighborhood literary salon.
The Perfect Reading Setup
While the bookstore doesn't have indoor reading areas, the location couldn't be better for book lovers who want to settle in with their purchases. Next door sits Queen Anne Coffee Co., and the walkway between the two businesses features umbrella tables and chairs – creating the perfect outdoor reading spot where you can grab a drink and a snack and enjoy your newly purchased book. It's the kind of thoughtful partnership that makes you want to linger and savor both your reading and your refreshments, turning book buying into a complete literary experience.
Community Engagement
Queen Anne Book Company goes beyond retail to foster genuine literary community. They host drop-in monthly book discussions on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM, moderated by their friendly and knowledgeable staff. The upcoming discussion book is always 20% off at checkout for participants, and they meet outside when possible while maintaining health-conscious practices. It's exactly the kind of programming that turns customers into community members.
The Verdict
Located in the quaint Queen Anne neighborhood with plenty of shopping and dining options nearby, Queen Anne Book Company serves as both a destination bookstore and a neighborhood institution. Their combination of carefully curated selection, passionate and knowledgeable staff, local connections, and community programming creates exactly the kind of experience that reminds you why independent bookstores matter.
The store embodies their own mission statement perfectly: they are indeed "a warm, cozy hangout, with treasures to be found on every shelf, for every person." From their celebration of local authors and artists to their staff's genuine enthusiasm for connecting readers with the perfect book, Queen Anne Book Company proves that the best bookstores aren't just selling books – they're building community, one recommendation at a time.
Walking away with "No More Chairs" and a renewed appreciation for the power of personal recommendations, I was reminded that some of the best books we discover aren't the ones we came looking for, but the ones that passionate booksellers help us find.
Queen Anne Book Company
1811 Queen Anne Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
Mon-Fri: 10 am-6 pm, Sat-Sun: 10 am-5 pm
Where neighborhood charm meets literary passion in the heart of Queen Anne.
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