Conditions are pretty tough for all retailers at the moment, including my beloved independent booksellers. These stores have to compete with that online behemoth named after a South American river at the best of times, and these challenge economic times might push some small retailers too deep into the red to survive. The loss of any small business is a sad thing, but losing any independent bookstores, when there are already so few to be found, is just too awful to think about.
If you are in the Lower Mainland and need some new quarantine reads to tide you over until libraries reopen, why not consider making a purchase from one of our many incredible local small bookstores? You might not get your books delivered the next day, and there might be a small delivery fee, but you’ll be supporting your own local economy, and that’s pretty amazing.
As always, I don’t have any affiliate links or connection with any of these retailers. I just want to do whatever I can to help support fellow book lovers in my community.
Founded by a former librarian (woohoo!), KidsBooks has two locations for your shopping convenience (once the world returns to normal, of course). They are absolutely your go-to source for all your kids and teen lit needs. Not only do they have an amazing variety of books and materials available, they also have the most knowledgeable and passionate staff. If you’re looking for a gift for a young person, they’ll help you pick just the right book. The first time I saw a book with my name on it standing on one of their shelves, I just about burst into tears, I was so proud to be sold in a store I’ve loved for so many years. The store is closed for browsing but open for online and telephone shopping, and offers delivery and curbside pickup.
Black Bond Books / Book Warehouse
This local chain of bookstores has 6 locations across the Lower Mainland, including two Book Warehouse locations, but the Main street location will always have a special place in my heart, because they’ve generously and kindly hosted all three of my picture book launch events! We often walk up and down Main street, or at least we did, and we couldn’t pass by without picking up at least one book. They’ve got a great kids section, and always have heaps of discount books, which makes my cheap heart happy. They offer both curbside pickup and flat-rate delivery within British Columbia.
Hager Books is a charming little independent bookstore in the Kerrisdale neighborhood, located right on 41st street. I’ve had the thrill of seeing my books on their shelves, and appreciate their support of a local author! They have lovely staff and a particularly nice assortment of cookbooks, which I always stare at longingly, knowing full well I’ll never actually use any of them. Which hasn’t actually ever stopped me from buy them… They are doing phone orders, with pickup at their door.
This Indigenous-owned book-selling business is particularly neat in that it includes both a storefront on Hastings street and a mobile book truck! Iron Dog Books is committed to making reading accessible, and sells a mix of new and pre-loved books in communities across metro Vancouver. Their physical locations are closed for browsing, but they are offering pick up and delivery options to keep the flow of reading materials open.
I couldn’t do a post celebrating independent bookstores without including my absolute favourite bookstore, The Book Man – specifically the Chilliwack location. This bookstore has an incredible selection of used books, and both my partner and I walk out with a literal stack of new-to-us reads every time we visit. It’s nowhere near where we live and involves driving for over an hour from our home out into the valley, but it is so, so worth it. We usually try to add a visit to one of our favourite breweries – Field House Brewing in Abbotsford – to make the trip even more worthwhile.
Now, this is obviously just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to independent bookstores – want to find an independent bookstore near you? Check out Indieboundand find out what amazing booksellers are in your neighborhood!
Here’s to our wonderful independents! Great post:)
Thank you! Long may they supply us with beautiful books! <3