Shopping in Seattle
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Archie McPhee
No longer in Ballard, but still crammed to the gills with all manner of wacky goodies you probably didn’t even know you needed, Archie McPhee is a Seattle tradition and a lot of fun, whether you’re buying or just marveling at the selection. Inflatable meatloaf, anyone? Maybe some Cthulhu mints?
reviewed
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Pacific Place
Seattle’s best-quality boutique mall feels a bit like the lobby of an upscale hotel – it’s cylindrical, and the total lack of that hectic shopping-mall vibe makes it very pleasant to walk around. Clothiers include J Crew, Club Monaco and BCBG. The large stores of Restoration Hardware and Williams-Sonoma are fun to look around in. Take a moment to gape in the window at Tiffany & Co or saunter inside for a special gift. The mall’s top level features a movie theater, a pub and a couple of restaurants. This is also where you’ll find the nicest public restrooms in downtown Seattle.
reviewed
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C
Elliott Bay Book Company
Perish the day when ebooks render bookstores obsolete. What will happen to the Saturday-afternoon joy of Elliott Bay books, where 150,000 titles inspire author readings, discussions, reviews and hours of serendipitous browsing?
reviewed
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D
Westlake Center
This ‘boutique mall’ – also the starting point for the Monorail – has turned into a landmark, partly because of its location and the fact that its concrete patio and steps make a nice gathering point. It’s somehow heartening to see ragtag groups of antiwar protesters (and an inordinate number of cops) rallying in front of such a monument to the big American dollar. Inside you’ll find shops like Fossil watches, LUSH and Made in Washington. Local stores include an outlet of Fireworks, which offers inexpensive arty products by regional craftspeople – they make great gifts.
reviewed
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E
Uwajimaya
Dried squid? Check. Sheets of seaweed? Check. Dumpling steamers, teapots, chopsticks? Check, check, check. The enormous Asian grocery and supply store Uwajimaya, anchoring an eponymous shopping center, has everything needed to prepare Thai, Japanese, Chinese and just about any other type of Asian specialties. You’ll find fresh and frozen meat and fish, canned and dried produce, and intriguingly labeled treats of all kinds, as well as cooking tools, small appliances, spices, cookbooks, toiletries and gift items. It also has a deli and bakery, and a number of hole-in-the-wall restaurants edge the building.
reviewed
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Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
This landmark shop, on Pier 54, now has a lesser sibling, Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe Too – but never mind that. The original shop is where you’ll find cabinets of shrunken heads, piglets in jars and dried puffer fish – not for sale, of course, just for atmosphere. Also not for sale are the famous black diamond, Chief Seattle’s hat, a variety of stalagmites and ‘tites, and some pretty cool fortune-telling machines. The funniest souvenir available for purchase is a Mt St Helens ‘snowglobe’ – instead of snow, it has little gray particles meant to look like ash from the volcano’s eruption.
reviewed
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Kinokuniya
A great source for hard-to-find imported books and magazines in Asian languages (and in English about Asian culture), this bookstore inside Uwajimaya Village is also one of the few shops in the country where you can buy the lesser-known films of Kinji Fukasaku and other masters of Asian cinema on DVD. It has a fabulous supply of wrapping paper, cards and notebooks, not to mention imported comics and toys. Hello, Kitty!
reviewed
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Easy Street Records & Café
This place has everything: rock-and-roll, coffee, beer, food…and an open, airy place to hang out while enjoying all of the above. Any place where you can shop for new import records, have a beer and then kick back on the couch for a while is bound to attract attention, and you might have to elbow some hipsters out of your way to grab that coveted album – just try not to spill. Also at Queen Anne.
reviewed
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Sonic Boom
A local institution, Sonic Boom has moved from 15th Ave to this arguably handy spot, and also has a location in Ballard. This awesome indie record store has a great selection of new and used CDs and vinyl, and staff will order you something if they don’t have it in stock. Ask about in-store performances by bands coming through town.
reviewed
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Deluxe Junk
A local landmark, Deluxe Junk is one of Seattle’s most kitschy secondhand shops. Located in a former funeral parlor, it carries a deeply weird assortment of, well, junk. But some of it is pretty nice junk, retro and glitzy and sometimes fabulous – from retro sundresses and fluffy feather boas to home wares and furniture from the 1950s.
reviewed
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Pure Food Fish
Perhaps the gift that says ‘I heart Seattle’ the most is a whole salmon or other fresh seafood from the fish markets. All the markets will prepare fish for transportation on the plane ride home, or you can just call and have them take care of the overnight shipping; Pure Food Fish has the best reputation locally for quality and value.
reviewed
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Delaurenti’s
DeLaurenti’s is a mandatory market stop for the Italian chef or continental food enthusiast. Not only is there a stunning selection of cheese, sausages, hams and pasta, but there’s also the largest selection of capers, olive oil and anchovies that you’re likely to find this side of Genoa. The wine selection is also quite broad.
reviewed
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Bud’s Jazz Records
Whether you’re looking for recordings of Coltrane or the Duke, you’ll have a good chance of finding them here. Bud specializes in vintage vinyl recordings of early and hard-to-find jazz. Hours aren’t always strictly kept, but it’s worth checking back to catch the shop when it’s open.
reviewed
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Niketown
The huge Niketown has its roots in the Northwest – it was founded by Phil Knight in Eugene, Oregon. The store sells all kinds of Nike clothing, shoes and accessories, and acts as a sort of museum for the company’s marketing campaign, with posters and quotations from some of its endorsement stars covering the walls.
reviewed
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Left Bank Books
This 35-year-old collective displays 'zines in español, revolutionary pamphlets, a 'fuck authority' notice board and plenty of Chomsky. You're in Seattle, just in case you forgot.
reviewed
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Pioneer Square Antique Mall
The Antique Mall is a warren of little shops across from the Pioneer Square pergola; it’s actually part of the Seattle ‘underground’ and can be somewhat claustrophobic, but if you’re a patient gem hunter, you’ll definitely score. There’s lots of vintage clothing, jewelry, photos, cameras, china and knickknacks.
reviewed
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Once Upon a Time
This children’s store stocks top international brands like Baby Bjorn for savvy parents who like to dress their renaissance tots in labels from around the world. You’ll find everything from the practical to the simply adorable: strollers, knit toys, train sets, books, games, little socks and hats, and more.
reviewed
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Hardwick’s Hardware Store
Locals in the know come to Hardwick’s to explore the rows and rows of buckets filled with bizarre little gadgets and gizmos. Some people probably know what these objects are for, but most shoppers are looking for things to use in their art projects. It’s a hive of a place that’s fun just to explore.
reviewed
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Made in Washington
If you’re looking for something authentically Northwest, head to Made in Washington. One of several locations around the city, it stocks arts and crafts, T-shirts, coffee and chocolate, smoked salmon, regional wines, books and handy creations like the ‘Bite of Washington’ gourmet-food gift basket.
reviewed
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Wide World Books & Maps
Travelers will want to make a pilgrimage to Wide World Books & Maps. In addition to a great selection of travel guides, this pleasant store offers a full array of travel accessories and a staff of seasoned globetrotters. Ask for a calendar of events such as slideshows and author readings.
reviewed
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Babeland
Remember those pink furry handcuffs and that glass dildo you needed? Well, look no further.
reviewed
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Olsen’s Scandinavian Foods
If you’ve had a hankering for authentic lefse (Norwegian flatbread), black licorice or Kalle’s Kaviar in a squeeze tube – and who hasn’t? – this is the place to cure it. Olsen’s also stocks Nordic-flavored knickknacks and gift items.
reviewed
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Wild Salmon Seafood Market
At Wild Salmon Seafood Market – in the Fishermen’s Terminal on the south side of the Ballard Bridge, which is technically Magnolia, but still – you can buy fresh salmon and shellfish directly from the fishermen who caught it. The market will also ship fresh fish at reasonable prices.
reviewed
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Pike & Western Wine Shop
A good selection of regional wine and friendly service make this shop at the northern end of Pike Place Market a great place to get introduced to the wines of the Northwest. In-store wine tastings are open to the public from 4pm to 6pm Wednesdays ($5) and 3pm to 6pm Fridays (free).
reviewed
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Y
Crossroads Trading Co
This used-clothing store is less expensive than Red Light but also generally less hipster-chic, which is nice if you just want to shop for basics without having some too-cool clerk stare down her nose at your khaki slacks. There’s another branch in the U District.
reviewed