location:
501 Bloor St. West - 416.961.4496
663 Yonge Street - 416.964.1167
348 Danforth Ave. - 416.469.9997
1950 Queen St. E. - 416.961.1444
hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-10 or 11pm; Sun & public holidays 11am-10pm
payment methods: cash, interec, visa

(pics of Annex/Bloor street location)

When Chapters-Indigo and Amazon hit the Canadian book-industry in the mid-nineties, Toronto’s once thriving community of independent bookstores was decimated. Thankfully, the best of the independents, Book City survived. They have several locations, but their main store (in the trendy-but-still-fun neighbourhood “ the Annex”) is the best of the lot.

They have the usual selection of slightly discounted best-sellers and new releases, and their back-catalogue shelves are jam-packed (but organized). The magazine and newspaper section occupies very little space but is surprisingly well stocked. The staff seem fairly knowledgeable and helpful. But the store’s most notable feature is their selection of remainder and hurt books at rock-bottom prices.

Last remodeled in the early eighties, Book City may not seem that “comfortable” to those accustomed to café-au-libraries. But, those shoppers probably want to stick to the Book Suburbs anyway.
Ted Kulczycky