How this BMV bookstore can be your weekly hang spot

May 11, 2026 · 11:00 am · 2 min read

BMV is Toronto’s go-to store for second-hand and discount books, music or videos — but, it can also be a place to meet people who share the same love of physical media.

Lucas Bustinski

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If you need to vet your friend’s taste in books and music, take them to BMV Books.

The iconic store has four locations in Toronto, each boasting thousands of DVDs, blu-rays, vinyl records, CDs, magazines, comics, graphic novels, board games, action figures, collectibles and unique merchandise.

You can spend hours sifting through all the options, and even though you can’t really sit around, it’s a good place to try and get to know your friends a little better.

The four BMV locations are:

10 Edward St. in downtown Toronto, near TMU Station.
471 Bloor St. W. in the Annex, two blocks away from Spadina Station.
244 Queen St. W., which is near a 501 streetcar stop.
2289 Yonge St., a block away from the Eglinton Station.

The Annex location is the flagship store, based out of the Hungarian Castle. It also houses the most diverse stock.

One of the biggest draws of BMV is its low pricing. Because its inventory comes from publisher overstock, white sales and second-hand straight from customers, it sells at a discounted rate, with some books being more than half-off their original sale price.

You can even sell your own stuff to BMV. You can bring your items to the buying counter at any location. Staff make you an offer on all items they can resell. Then, you have the option to donate the items you don’t want or you can take them back. You can learn more here.

A book display inside BMV.
📸: Lucas Bustinski/*The Green Line*.

According to its website, BMV has new stock everyday, so it’s definitely a place you can keep going back to. Bring along friends or try and strike up a conversation with other customers about what brought them there, swap favourites and make it more than just a shopping trip. You never know what someone’s favourite comic or what their choice of vinyl might reveal about them.

If you have more unconventional meet-up spots, let us know!

You can check out our rating for the BMV’s vibes, coziness, affordability and transit accessibility on The Green Line’s Third Spaces Map — then explore more spots to hang out near you!