Fountain Pen Shopping In Seattle?

[mamajones]

Any good places to buy fountain pens / ink / etc. in Seattle?

 

I was planning on going to the Kinokuniya store (and checking out the Uwajimaya store also), but otherwise, the stores I've found on google maps (Silberman Brown and Paper Hammer) seem to be more about stationery than pens.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[doggle2]

The UW (University of Washington) bookstore seems good. At the main location, I got a bottle of Lamy Bronze. They have a ton of other fountain pen friendly stationery too.

 

Kinokuniya is probably the only place to get those high end pens, though.

[roger3]

++++in regards to UW bookstore.

[mamajones]

Thanks for the suggestion doggle and roger: I love a good bookstore too, so I will definitely try to get to the UW Bookstore!

[XYZZY]

Silberman Brown is primarily a stationery store, but they do have fountain pens. Unfortunately I've only been there once and I used my time budget looking at stationery and not pens, and I don't even recall what brands they carried. Given their location and what I inferred from their presentation I expect them to have some more expensive pens. But they had enough on display that I would definitely consider them a fountain pen store even if that's not their main thing.

 

It's been a year since I was in the UW bookstore and I don't recall what brands they carried. I know there was Pilot and Lamy, and I'm pretty sure Montblanc although they aren't listed on MB's Where to Buy pages. I also recall some pens with a big purple W on the side, so on the off-chance you need a pen for a Husky grad, there's that. Because who wouldn't want an MB 149 with a large purple W on the side?

 

Constellation & Co is a small stationery and letterpress shop, but they have a few Sailor pens and inks. I learned about the shop when I was looking for reviews of a specific finish of Sailor pen (I don't recall which) and one review that I found was from "Snail Mail Superstar" who is also the owner of Constellation & Co.

 

I enjoy going to Kinokuniya. Lots of paper, and many pens. Not just Japanese, you can also find Kaweco Sport pens on the open shelf next to Preppies, Kakunos, and Metropolitans. And then a lot of pens under the display case. I have been told that the lady behind the counter is knowledgable and will let you dip & try pens. But I've never done that: the pens under glass are MSRP, and I don't want to use her time when I know that I wont buy from her. They also have a decent ink selection. But mostly I enjoy fondling the stationery.

 

Eagle Harbor Bookstore on Bainbridge Island has a display rack containing Ooly Splendid fountain pens. You can find a great review of the pen here on FPN. I wouldn't make a trip to Bainbridge Island for this, but if you're there anyhow this is a great little pen for $7.99 and it's a cool bookstore, right in the touristy shops on the main tourist strip.

 

There are also five Daiso stores which also frequently carry some cheap Chinese-made pens, but I've never been tempted to buy them.

Edited August 6, 2019 by XYZZY

[rebcabin]

... I don't want to use her time when I know that I wont buy from her. ...

 

an ancient, subtle, venerable, and rarely seen ethic. Hat is off to you!

[mulrich]

I'm in Seattle for a couple days. Is Kinokuniya still the best (and only?) pen shop in town? 

[XYZZY]

Kinokuniya is the best that I know of.  I especially like Kinokuniya for playing with the paper.  The good pens are behind the counter and you'll need to ask for help.  Cheaper pens (Platinum Preppy, Pilot Kakuno) will be stocked on the rack and might even have opened units for sampling.  You'll also pay MSRP there; not a good buy if you're looking for something expensive, unless you find a limited edition 3776 that everybody else is selling for double the MSRP.  

 

The others... maybe worth a stop if you're already next door, but I wouldn't arrange limited trip time around them...

 

Silberman Brown Stationers (https://www.silbermanbrown.com/) is... I wrote a paragraph about them, then discovered via Google maps that they are permanently closed.  I guess I'll need to find a new place for Christmas cards.

 

The University Bookstore (https://www.ubookstore.com/) has a much smaller selection.  A few years ago they had some nicer pens, but when I was there in May (2022) it was Pilot Metropolitans and Lamy Safaris, maybe a few in the tier of a Pilot Custom 74.  There were probably a couple of other brands, too, but I don't recall specifically.  Some Herbin and Noodlers inks.  I think they also had Rhodia notebooks & journals.  I wouldn't make a trip there just for their pens & paper, but if you're there anyhow, the fountain pens will be on the second floor.  Maybe the way to describe it:  they carry the fountain pens that might be used by students, whereas a few years ago they would also carry MB 149s and the like, the kind you might buy in a hurry as a graduation present for a student.

 

And there are something like five Daiso stores in the area.  I've never been tempted to buy any of the fountain pens there.  

 

[dragondazd]

Pretty much.

[mulrich]

Thanks; sad that such a large city has such a limited retail pen presence but I think this is how most cities are.