Visit these fine independent bookstores in Toronto
While some would argue that the printed word is dead, these independent bookstores in Toronto prove otherwise. The pressure is on from eReaders and digital eBooks but there are still places you can go to recall the glossy feel of a dust jacket or the aroma of fresh ink.
Swipe Design | Books + Objects
101-401 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3A8Toronto is a city in flux, one that’s constantly shifting its aesthetic and appearance. With many of our historic buildings here one day and gone the next, a bookstore like Swipe immortalizes everything. Their focus is on graphic design, architecture and urbanism, covering not just Toronto but all major world cities. You can find a good blend of books and journals, the theoretical and the practical, combining all interests under one roof.
Bakka-Phoenix Books
84 Harbord St, Toronto, ON M5S 1G5Is there anything cooler than meeting and having your favourite author sign your novel? This sci-fi/ fantasy bookstore on Harbord regularly invites authors to host events, knowing how important it is to connect readers and writers. Unlike most bookstores, Bakka Phoenix maintains a web blog that’s written by employees who offer their personal reviews and recommendations. As well as listing new titles, they keep readers up to date on store and staff news.
Book City
348 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N8They describe themselves as “classy, comfortable and cheap,” and we’d agree this is the atmosphere at all four of their locations. Book City is the rare bookstore that masterfully combines size and quality without losing intimacy. You can find multiple editions of the same 19th century Russian novel, and curl up in a corner to browse through it. Book City recently bucked the trend by opening a new location in Bloor West Village.
Type Books
427 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5P 2W3It’s best to enter here with an open mind because you definitely won’t get the typical bookstore experience. The first major attraction is the window display, which recently featured the first ever Type Book Awards (all picks made according to staff preferences). Second, the store loves to celebrate local authors on a regular basis. And, it caters separately to different age groups, promoting story time for the wee ones and launching events for older readers.
Glad Day Bookshop
598A Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z3It’s hard to think of this city as being anything less than progressive and accepting, but before the Glad Day opened in 1970, Toronto’s queer scene was mostly underground. This indy bookstore pays homage to the city’s queer roots and offers a diverse selection of literature from 2Spirit/First Nations to gay male erotica, and even some queer books in French. Plus, you can rent on-site performance and rehearsal space.
BMV Books
10 Edward St, Toronto, ON M5G 1C9It’s one of the most prominent indy bookstores in Toronto for several reasons: the four locations scattered across downtown/uptown, the huge selection (especially at the Bloor Street store) of new and used literature, and the fact that you can sell the book back to them once you’ve read it. Prices are reasonable and often heavily discounted and you can always find a few bargains in the sidewalk bins. Making reading accessible and affordable is why they’ve outlasted the competition.
