Pike Place Eviction Takes Ugly Turn

No arrests were made, but lawyers were called after a shoving match over the eviction of Seattle landmark Shorey Book Store at the Pike Place Market.

Shorey, the city’s oldest bookstore at 105 years, had been ordered by landlord Harbor Properties Inc. to vacate the premises by Dec. 15.

On Friday, Harbor employees marched into the partially empty store, took away dozens of boxed books and removed locks, bookstore employees say.

When Harbor and Shorey workers started shoving one another around, police were called. Then lawyers were called.

David Buck, an attorney for Harbor Properties, said Shorey had ignored an agreement to vacate the space by Dec. 15. He contends the store owes $90,000 in back rent.

Harbor has a new tenant, a brew pub, that wants to move in Tuesday, Buck said.

Jim Todd, president of Shorey Book Store, said he does not owe $90,000 in back rent. And he said he never received a legal eviction notice but agreed to move out because he believed the rent was too high and there wasn’t enough parking.

“We’re bitter about the whole thing. We’ve been treated very poorly,” Todd said.

He said he tried to meet the Dec. 15 deadline, moving 500,000 books to a new store in the Fremont neighborhood. Only 200 boxes were left to go.

“This is like 1939 Germany, storm the doors. I can’t believe this,” Todd said.

The lawyers worked it out. Shorey agreed to be out of the space by the end of the day.