There are many wonderful second-hand bookshops located in the provinces of Canada. In this post, we look at 10 of the best used bookstores in Ontario.
1. Sellers & Newel
Sellers & Newel can be found in the Little Italy district of Toronto. It was set up in 2011 by Peter Seller, who carefully curates the second-hand books that you can find lining the shelves. Although the store is small, it makes up for it in character!
Sellers & Newell specializes in literature, horror, jazz, and philosophy books, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t find books on other topics there for you! If you can’t find what you are looking for, Peter will be more than happy to help you find it, and if it’s not in stock he can hunt it down for you.
Start a conversation with Sellers & Newel.
2. The Book Addict
The Book Addict is located in London, where they have been serving the local community with its bookish needs for over 25 years! They’re not picky when it comes to the genres or types of used books that they sell, so every time you visit you are in for a surprise.
If you are looking to clear some space on your shelves, then The Book Addict would be happy to take a look at some of your collections to see if they will buy them from you. To pique your curiosity, take a peek at some of their scrapbooks, which contain odds and ends that the staff has found in the books before selling them!
Get in touch with The Book Addict.
3. Allison the Bookman
Allison the Bookman is situated in North Bay, but some of their second-hand books have made it to many destinations around the world! The store was founded back in 1973 by Gord Allison, and now the third generation of the family runs the store in the form of Anette Allison-Vander Waal.
They have over 200,000 titles for you to choose from on all sorts of topics. Allison the Bookman also supports local authors, whose books you can find in the store. Arrange an appointment with them if you would like to sell them your books, which you can trade in for store credit.
Pay a visit to Allison the Bookman.
4. Bearly Used Books
Bearly Used Books in Parry Sound has over 5,000 square feet of shop space filled with books for you to discover! They cater to all ages, with over 15,000 books in their children’s section alone!
Stuffed bears around the only furry friends that you will find around Bearly Used Books. You can also spot the store dog, Sophie, lounging around! Alongside their massive selection of second-hand books, you can also view their new books offering, which features local authors among others.
Check out Bearly Used Books.
5. Janus Books
Janus Books have been in business since 2012, and you can find them in Guelph. They stock a wide range of great quality, gently used second-hand books, whether they are vintage classics or recent bestsellers.
There are over 10,000 books in Janus Books’ inventory, both in-store and online. They are constantly adding to their offering by buying books from visitors that meet their criteria, so if you are looking to part with a novel or two then it’s worth heading along!
Say hello to Janus Books.
6. The Great Escape Book Store
The Great Escape Book Store has been part of the Toronto landscape for over 50 years. They have both new and second-hand books on offer, so are a perfect place to stop and browse if you are not sure if you want the newest bestseller or a much-loved favorite.
Take a break from the shelves and relax for a while in their rose garden. It’s also worth stopping by regularly to find out what sorts of events they are holding, such as film and book clubs, sales, and more.
Reach out to The Great Escape Book Store.
7. Pickwick Books
Pickwick Books was established in 1995 in Waterdown and became a much-loved part of the community. They are now on to their third proprietor, Cheryl Kaufman, who continues the legacy of selling gently-used books of all shapes and sizes.
Pickwick Books also has a credit reward program, allowing you to trade in your books for in-store credit. If they can’t take on any of your books, they are always happy to donate them for you to another cause, so you know that they are going to a good home!
Head on over to Pickwick Books.
8. Juniper Books
Juniper Books is situated in Windsor and their specialty is used and rare books of all kinds. They have a whole 4 floors filled with them, plus an annex at the back for more discounted titles!
There are books for all ages, including a children’s section, and many other services, such as bookbinding, appraisals, and delivery in the local area. If the sheer amount of titles on offer is starting to leave you bewildered as to what to go for, their friendly staff team is always on hand to assist you.
Stop by Juniper Books.
9. Contact Editions
Contact Editions are located in Toronto, where they have been for over 30 years. Their wheelhouse is rare, used, and antiquarian books, with titles dating from the 16th century all the way through to 2007!
Owners Wesley and Lucia Begg carefully curate the 20,000 books on the shelves at Contact Editions. If there is a particular book you have been keeping an eye out for, then be sure to let them know so that they can either check if they have it, or let you known if it becomes available.
Enquire with Contact Editions.
10. The Book Re-View
The Book Re-View can be found in Orillia, selling great quality second-hand books for over 30 years. The store has gone under many moderizations in the most recent years, although Molly, the store cat, remains the same!
The Book Re-View has a whole host of topics and genres for you to look through in store, all the way from animals to westerns! If they don’t have what you want in stock, then let them know and they will look out for it for you in future.
Connect with The Book Re-View.