Elliott Bay Book Company is weathering the storm of the COVID-19 crisis with a shift to online sales and local delivery along with a healthy dose of positive labor relations. A smaller, simpler, Capitol Hill sister book retailer, Twice Sold Tales doesn’t get the nationwide love of Elliott Bay but it, too, is trying to hang on through the outbreak and the ripples of economic challenges.

Owner Jamie Lutton has had to shut the doors of the Harvard Ave store during the COVID-19 restrictions and is looking for community support to help with one month’s rent:

The global pandemic we are all experiencing is very hard on small businesses like ours. To conform with Gov. Inslee’s stay-at-home order, we have closed our doors, and do not know for certain when we will be able to open again. Doing business in Seattle is very expensive. Our minimum operating costs are in excess of $20,000 a month. We are looking into government assistance, but so far we don’t know when or how much… Securing a month’s rent would be of Great Help! Thank you so much in advance.

“We love being a part of the Capitol Hill community, and hope to be here for years to come,” Lutton writes about her shop, one of the few remaining used book store in the city.

CHS last visited Twice Sold last year to say hello to the store’s legendary cats. Twice Sold was part of the great exodus of small businesses from around Broadway and John as old retail buildings were demolished to make way for Capitol Hill Station. Way back in 2009, we talked with Lutton about the move to Harvard Ave. “I’m still here!,” she told us then.

You can give to Twice Sold Tales here.

Know of other neighborhood businesses that could use a boost? Let us know in comments or email CHS@capitolhillseattle.com.

UPDATE 4:15 PM: We’re mostly unfamiliar with Gofundme’s platform so we’re hoping that this isn’t an abuse of the system — an anonymous donor just stepped up with a big gift for Twice Sold… hopefully:

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