Troubled Elliott Bay Book Co. is moving to Capitol Hill, other indie booksellers have succumbed to Amazon and Wal-Mart, but University Book Store is doing just fine where it is. Owning its own building, with subsidized parking, a lucrative (captive) textbook market, and privileged status as a co-op, the store has been thriving since 1900. Todays 110th-anniversary party will be celebrated at all locations (Bellevue, Mill Creek, etc.), but the flagship store on the Ave is still where most readers love to browse. Long before the current book-sales slump, the store diversified into stationary, stuffed animals, Husky logo sweatshirts, gifts, and music. For a while, it even sold computers and electronics; and this month the store is launching an on-demand printing kiosk (the Espresso Book Machine), in recognition of changing consumer habits. And for todays celebration, the store has published an historical volume, 110/110, with shopping recollections penned by Tom Robbins, Ivan Doig, Garth Stein, David Guterson, Jim Woodring, Paul Dorpat and others. (The collection is free with purchase of a contributors book.) Cake and cider are also part of the festivities. BRIAN MILLER
Sun., Jan. 10, 12-5 p.m., 2010
