Robert Anderson says bye to a neighborhood he called home for over twenty years, but says hi to the University District.
Robert Anderson says "bye" to a neighborhood he called home for over 20 years, Capitol Hill. Gary Can

As I reported back in June, Robert Anderson, owner of the occult bookstore, Edge of the Circle Books, was unceremoniously dumped by his landlord. Out of the blue, the property manager called up Anderson and told him that his lease was not going to be renewed and that he had to be out of the space by August 1, despite the fact that he'd paid rent on time for twenty years, and despite the company's previous assurance some years ago that Anderson "didn't have anything to worry about."

In response to this situation, I consulted Dusty Dionne, High Priest of the Aquarian Tabernacle Mother Church, and asked him what might be done to help Anderson in his time of need. He gave me a list of spells I could cast, and, with input from The Stranger's editorial staff, I casted a sun spell in the hopes that Anderson would find the best new space he possibly could.

Lo and behold: He found one! And he likes it! I wasn't sure whether it was the sun spell or the outpouring of support from his community that helped the most, so I decided to call him up and ask him about the new space.

Anderson said that the wave of support from the community has been really touching. A number of loyal customers banded together and organized a "Make it Rain on Edge of the Circle Books Day" on Monday, June 22. Anderson claims he did a week's worth of sales in one day, which helps to alleviate the financial burden of the move. Some of the people who came even offered to help him do the heavy lifting when the time comes to pick up shop and head up to the U-District. "You know at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life, when all those people come and help that guy?" he asked. "It’s like that!"

Thanks to the help of the community, Edge of the Circle will relocate to 45th and University Way, in the space that used to be The Comic Stop. Anderson says it's "a retailer's dream spot," because of the high foot traffic and the fact that four busses stop right outside his new door. "People in Bellevue can catch a bus and end up directly at my store without even having to transfer," he said.

He's pumped about his new neighbors, too. Former Capitol Hill vintage and costume shop, Redlight, is right around the corner, and Gargoyles Statuary, which sells gargoyles (both for exterior and interior use), jewelry, sandals, incense, etc., is right down the street.

He tried to keep the business on Capitol Hill, but most of the spaces he found were too pricey or didn't suit his needs. And though he's excited for the move, he's sad to say goodbye to a neighborhood he called home for over 20 years. "I’ll miss Honey Hole, Babeland, and Ayutthaya, which is still the best Thai I’ve ever had," he said. "And of course they added the rainbow crosswalks after I’ve been kicked out!"

But, alas, all the energetics pointed to the U-District: "It almost feels like fate, like I’m riding the wave that’s taking me there," he said.

Anderson might be riding the waves of fate to his new shop, but soon there'll be a train that will get you there, and pretty quickly, too.