I recently meandered through downtown Orangeville, Ontario while on a visit from Vancouver and…read morestumbled upon this delightful bookstore. It was well stocked and organized. The array of fiction was impressive and there was a good mix of contemporary fiction and classic literature. The woman behind the counter was delightful and we engaged in a thoughtful conversation that I greatly appreciated. I could tell that this store was a place that took pride in what it does and as a result is an integral part of the vibrant historic downtown Orangeville that has been able to have thrive, which is remarkable in an age where many old Downtowns have suffered at the hand of shopping malls and big box stores. I will go out of my way to come here again next time I am in Southern Ontario, and will stop to buy a few books to read in one of the delightful coffee shops nearby.

Today a trek into Orangeville I found myself walking the streets poking my head into store after…read morestore just to see what this little town had to offer. More than anything what I continually came upon as we peeled back the un reviewed and soft shell of this town was a layer of character unseen in may other sections of the Greater Toronto Area. Entering into Readers choice was no different. Entering it the first words that came to mind was a literal avalanche. Used books. Piled as high and as far back as the eye can see. More books that you could conceivably read in 3 life times and all at significantly reduced prices compared to retail. Tens of thousands of used books. A wonderfully friendly staff member by the name of Joanne.And an ornate wooden cash desk truly endeared me to this little place. For future yelp explorers or customers, this spot offers a unique purchase and credit program whereby you can purchase a book and depending on it's age, condition and popularity can be sold back to the store at a few dollars off what you bought it for. Monies made on books sold back to the store are attained by way of in store credit - and ingenious business model to keep customers flowing in and out while retaining money in store. A great spot and worth checking out if you're looking for a good book.

What a strange location…read more Despite being located in a large mall and near the centre of a major intersection (Hurontario/Bovaird), this Chapters location seems oddly out-of-the-way. Maybe it's the fact that a lot of the land isn't built up around it, maybe it was because it was nighttime, or maybe it was because the crowds I thought would be at the event I attended weren't present - whatever the case, it was a surprisingly-enjoyable experience. This was one of the rare times when I attended an event here in both a professional and personal capacity. I went out to cover a book being launched by federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh... and I also went to get my book signed, as I'm all about the bookstore experience for signing events. What I noticed walking into this location it's that, even thought it's a "chain" site for the brand, it's the little details that set this location apart. The Starbucks is fully-integrated within the store (no security scanners like the Square One location), and it's sort-of encased by bookshelves around half the chairs, which makes it much easier to sit and enjoy a drink or talk with someone in peace if you're so inclined. The kids' section is the biggest I've seen anywhere outside the Yonge/Bloor location, and I was actually a bit surprised that this site focuses a little more on style over substance, via a central "mezzanine" area". That's not to say it's lacking in books - not by a long shot - but the setup was appreciated. Service was fantastic, with a handful of female staffers at the checkout asking me if I was attending the event without my prompting, and were very friendly when I bought a copy of the book afterwards. I ended up sitting through the whole thing, and was impressed by the staff's management of the lineup and the groups going up to sign. (PROTIP: There's an older woman who attends these events, who sports long, scraggly hair and has a wiry build, who's jumped the line on at least two occasions, having done the same thing at the Sally Field signing event in downtown Toronto. Keep a look out for her if she comes back. She's a wily one.) In the end, I was very pleased to attend this location, and getting a bro-shake from Singh (along with a photo) was worth the price of getting up there. I was actually a bit disappointed with the crowd - there weren't nearly as many people as I was expecting (blame the Leafs playoff game), and the line moved exceptionally quick. Just a fun, friendly experience all around. 4/5. (P.S. I even made it to the CBC coverage of the event: cbc.ca/player/play/1504781891931)

I like this Chapters and Bovaird and Main. It's right beside…read morethe Walmart and there are a bunch of chain stores to eat at around here (Booster Juice, Second Cup). There is a Dollarama in the plaza and a Walmart. There is also a Starbucks inside this Chapters. I like the books and non-book items that you can buy here. There was a lot of selection for Valentine's day such as women's scarves, adorable tea cups, coffee mugs, cookies, and other knick knacks that you don't need but just want to buy. It's a good place to pick up presents. They have a great selection of journals at this location. Some of the staff is a bit stand offish but others are friendly. I do like this Chapters location though.

Nice atmosphere, and a fun way to browse through for an afternoon. Staff seemed very helpful and…read moreknowledgeable. The entire store smells like a nice, old book. There's a $1 book pile on the front porch, but apart from that, the prices are either comparable or slightly more expensive than other used book stores I've seen (about $8-20).

Great bookstore in a little house. They have a surprisingly large collection of books. They also…read morebuy your old books for a few bucks. Their website has a convenient link that allows you to perform searches and check if they have a particular book in their collection.

I love this place! It definitely is a hidden gem that a coworker told me about. First of, it's not…read moreas big as an indigo bookstore however it is a better location to get school textbooks, workbooks and other novels, etc. I come here quite often for resources (it has a great variety for French materials). Lastly, the staff members are absolutely friendly and very helpful! This is definitely a happy spot for any learners/educators!

I am a school Principal in Markham. I have been buying text books since 2003 and the service at…read moreBantner's is exceptional. Please visit and you will see.

There is not a lot of Indy bookstores left, but The Book Shelf is surely looking to stay around for…read moremany more years. It has a monster selection, but you really get a feel that everything is curated down from the travel selection down to the magazines. Even the kids section is fantastic and my son really loved our visit. They do a variety of special events and the staff are just super nice. You owe yourself the favour and go hang out at The Book Shelf for a while.

I love Guelph. This bookstore has the worst staff I have ever encountered in any local business. I…read moreused to run retail stores and if I heard my staff treat customers like this they would have been fired on the spot. I was horrified to hear the staff berating a woman who had her mask down in the store. The ignorant staffer asked if she had a virology degree and insisted that a cloth mask was mandatory even though the woman had put it back up. Even Fauci at this point has said cloth masks don't stop the spread of this virus. It's disturbing that staff can be belligerent to customers as mandates are about to be dropped literally tomorrow. Never will I shop here again.

Amazing selection of new and used records, plus a huge amount of books! And excellent service,…read moretoo. I sold my records here, and will be back to buy and sell!

An amazing and delightful shop full of great finds - books AND records!!! Really great prices and…read moresuper friendly, knowledgable owners!

Like any independent bookstore, it's a treasure. Great place to browse. Good community feel…read more Supportive of local authors. Staff are friendly and helpful. David is as enthusiastic as ever.

Excellent service, very kind. Everyone in the store is very comforting and helpful. The books are…read morenicely displayed and everything is easy to find