Meg, thanks for getting the word out about this. The Couth Buzzard is a Greenwood treasure and not be taken for granted. Just like Ms. van Huygen herself is a Slog treasure, even if these silly comment threads don't reflect the appreciation she deserves.

I still own books I bought at Pistil, Bailey-Coy, Fillipi's, Spine and Crown, and of course Twice Sold Tales. All great places, but each departed for a different reason. Bailey-Coy was queer literature, which is now mainstream, and therefore just another section at Elliott Bay. Spine and Crown had the building remodeled out from under it. Capitol Hill’s Twice Sold Tales is now a Link Light Rail station. Other Seattle bookstores are still going strong.

How does buying from a non-Amazon online retailer help an old indie brick-and-mortar store? The Amazon hate shown by the Stranger never ceases to amaze.

Seattle’s voters ensured every neighborhood would have a daytime community space when we rebuilt the library system. How many branches have been abandoned to the homeless? Perhaps the Stranger needs to re-think its policy of always championing the homeless over every other population in Seattle?

Thanks for including Shorey's in your list -- a wonderful place, long gone.

Thanks so much for this article. The Couth staff are currently brainstorming revival options, and any ideas, no matter how far out in doodle land, are welcome.

"Back in 1988, Gerry Lovchik opened Couth Buzzard Books about 10 blocks south on Greenwood Avenue North, next to Ken's Market."

Initially I couldn't figure out what it was 10 blocks south of, then a few paragraphs later I realized you meant 10 blocks south of its current location.