What’s one thing you do when you travel to really get to know a city?
When I asked two friends who were in town from the U.S. last summer, they said: visit second-hand bookstores. It’s a great way to learn about the people who live in a place, they told me. I was impressed and mad I didn’t think about it first.
So, I went on a scavenger hunt around the city and online (thank you, Reddit) and put together this list of second-hand bookstores in Toronto. Whether you want a vintage manuscript, a cheaper deal or recommendations from fellow local readers, exploring second-hand bookstores has charm.
Balfour Books
Balfour Books is probably one of the most popular second-hand bookstores in the city. Located on 468 College St., the shop is absolutely stacked with every genre you can think of, from sci-fi to critical theory. It also has cookbooks and children’s books. As soon as you enter, a vintage blue dresser with some book highlights will welcome you.
Every year in March, Balfour Books runs a half-price sale, so make sure to note that down. The shop frequently adds new collections to its shelves — you can be the first to know by following balfour_books on Instagram. It also has a generous collection of books for $1.
Re:Reading
Re:Reading on 548 Danforth Ave. calls itself “a used book oasis.” It has more than 30,000 titles, as well as DVDs and a whole sci-fi room perfect for the nerds out there.
Stepping into the store is definitely an experience with Jar Jar Binks in a jar, an eyeball (cushion) on the floor and many fun knick-knacks to enjoy while you look for your next read. The owner often runs a “Pan-Galactic Multiverse Scavenger Hunt,” so be on the lookout next time you’re on the Danforth.
BMV
This is an obvious one, so it had to make the list. Toronto’s BMV has tons of cheap books, DVDs, Blu-rays, vinyl records, CDs, magazines, comics, graphic novels, board games, action figures and collectibles. Not everything is second-hand, but it’s a good place to spend some time getting to know your friend’s taste in books and music.
You can explore one or all of the four locations across the city. I’ll let our video producer, Lucas Bustinki, convince you to hang out there.
She Said Boom!
She Said Boom has two locations: 393 Roncesvalles Ave. and 378 College St. It specializes in both books and records, with genres spanning literature, philosophy, poetry, theatre, cookbooks, science fiction, science, mystery, religion, art, graphic novels, kids’ books, psychology, music books and history.
📸: Yara El Murr/The Green Line.
Doug Miller Books
Doug Miller Books is another community staple in Toronto at 650 Bloor St. W., with a wide range of titles at really affordable prices. You can often find second-hand books for only a couple of dollars, and everybody online raves about how knowledgeable the owner is and how aptly he can find anything you’re looking for amidst shelves stacked from floor to ceiling.
ABC Book Store
ABC Book Store on 662 Yonge St. might be a bit tight, but its shelves are stacked floor to ceiling with used books at reduced prices. You can find second-hand books, graphic novels, comics, magazines and CDs. You can also bring in your own old books to sell them to the bookstore, as long as they’re in good condition.
The Great Escape
The Great Escape at 957 Kingston Rd. in The Beaches is a beloved local store with both new and used books. Owners just ran a buy-one-get-one-free sale in June, so keep your eye on greatescapebookstore on Instagram. If you stop by, you might be welcomed by Scout the dog, so make sure to give him some pats.
Pandemonium
Pandemonium on 2920 Dundas St. W. in The Junction carries used vinyls, CDs, DVDs and books for customers of all ages. It has a generous stash of children’s books and different genre displays, from history to science fiction to philosophy.
BookEnds
BookEnds is basically the Toronto Public Library’s bookstore, with two locations: one in the Reference Library at 789 Yonge St. and one at North York Central Library at 5120 Yonge St. Most books sell for $1 and come from donations to the library.
Looking for a more vintage vibe and rare manuscripts? Come back next Thursday for part two of the list! If you need an accessible bookstore, check out The Green Line’s list here.
If you check out any of our recommendations, let us know by tagging @TGLhelps on Instagram!
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