Shopping in Seattle

If you like to shop, you’ll love Seattle! Don’t miss the many small shops in Pike Place Market and the Pioneer Square area or the excellent gift shops at many of Seattle’s museums and art galleries (see “Gallery and Museum Hopping” section).

Downtown
Shopping in downtown Seattle is anchored by two large department stores, Bon-Macy’s, 3rd Ave. and Pine St., 206-506-6000, once the beloved Bon Marche; and the imposing flagship of the upscale, national Nordstrom’s chain, 500 Pine St., 206-628-2111. Nordstrom is connected by a skybridge to Pacific Place, 600 Pine St., 206-405-2655, a particularly attractive retail complex with restored old storefronts and a huge indoor atrium topped off with a great glass dome. Here are such high-end stores as Tiffany’s, Cartier, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Eddie Bauer and many other nationally known retailers. There’s “also a Barnes & Noble bookstore (see “Book Stores” below) that’s open until 11:00 each night and an 11-screen cinema complex.

Nearby, at 400 Pine Street, the Westlake Center, 206-467-1600, offers dozens of shops, services and eateries, including such stores as Talbots and Montblanc. The Made in Washington store on the second level sells all kinds of Washington products, including smoked salmon that’s packed for traveling. This four-story, glass-enclosed shopping center sits at the downtown end of the monorail line.

The City Centre Mall, 5th Ave. and Pike St., is home to Seattle’s best public collection of contemporary glass art. Shops include Barney’s of New York and numerous boutiques selling fashions and accessories.

Outdoor Gear
It wouldn’t be Seattle if there weren’t a great store dedicated to outfitting Seattleites for the outdoors. Filson, 1555 4th Ave. S., 206-622-3147, two blocks south of Safeco Field, does just that—and has been doing so for more than a century. The store, which began by outfitting Klondike prospectors, has the air of a mountain lodge and prides itself on the quality of its legendary outerwear. In addition to its aisles and aisles of merchandise, it features a window into its factory, Filson memorabilia and old-time outdoor displays. If you’re the outdoorsy type, Filson might be well worth a visit even if you don’t buy anything.

Not to be outdone, Seattle is the home base for the national REI co-op (Recreational Equipment Inc.) chain of outdoor gear stores. Seattle’s flagship store includes a 65-foot tall climbing wall, one of the world’s tallest, indoor, freestanding climbing walls, not to mention a mountain bike test trail and various gear testing rooms, including a room where you can rain-test your gear.

222 Yale Ave. N.
206-223-1944.

Asian
It may be hard to pronounce, but the Uwajimaya supermarket in the International District, 600 5th Ave. S., 206-624-6248, is well worth a visit if you’re into Asian cooking or just want to pick up an Asian gift or toy. The store also has a large food court.

Northwest Artists
Of the many art galleries, curio shops and antique stores in the Pioneer Square area, these two sell excellent contemporary work by Northwest artists: Glasshouse Art Glass, 311 Occidental Ave. S., 206-682-9939, and, next door, Davidson Galleries, 313 Occidental Ave. S., 206-624-7684.
Also of note several blocks away from Pioneer Square

Kimzey Miller Gallery
1225 2nd Ave.
206-682-2339.

Native American Art
In the Pioneer Square area, Flury and Co., 322 1st Ave. S., 206-587-0260, offers a wide range of Indian art and artifacts, as does The Legacy Ltd., 1003 1st Ave., 206-624-6350, several blocks north. At Traditions and Beyond, 606 12th Ave. S., 206-621-0655, on the far side of the International District, prices are far more affordable and some of the proceeds go to Indian scholarship funds.

Books
In addition to the Barnes & Noble bookstore at Pacific Place, we highly recommend a visit to the Elliott Bay Book Company in the Pioneer Square area, especially if you’re interested in books about Seattle history, the Northwest, or Indian lore. Occupying a century old building, this expansive, brick-walled bookstore sells both new and used books, and offers an outstanding program of book readings and other events. There’s also a pleasant café on the premises. 101 S. Main St., 206-624-6600 or 800-962-5311.

Souvenirs
It’s been in business for 100 years, so who’s to scoff at the shrunken heads, mummies and other weird artifacts at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop at Pier 54, 1001 Alaskan Way, 206-682-5844. Part sideshow, part souvenir emporium, the Curiosity Shop has earned accolades from Ripley’s Believe It or Not and, among other things, sells jewelry made with ash from Mt. St. Helens, native art in silver, native totemic art and—who knows why—Russian folk art. Caveat emptor, and have a good time exploring the crowded aisles.

Outlet Mall
What would shopping be without a factory outlet? Supermall of the Great Northwest, which bills itself as “The Northwest’s Largest Outlet Mall,” is a 28-mile, half-hour drive away in suburban Auburn. Its outlet apparel shops include Nordstrom Rack, Liz Claiborne, Liz Woman, Banana Republic, Men’s Wearhouse, Bass, Eddie Bauer, and many entertainment and electronic stores, houseware and home furnishing stores, and such other retailers such as Marshall’s, Sam’s Club, Burlington Coat Factory and Bed Bath And Beyond. For information, call 253-833-9500.