by Nissa Khan
Montreal lost a treasure when Nicholas Hoare closed its doors in 2012. A towering oasis tucked away in Westmount, the bookstore was a marker for independent English Language shops that housed everything from Classic and contemporary fiction to literary magazines, travel books, art tomes, children’s literature and an exceptional selection of music.
Luckily, and despite the increase in discount online book buying in recent years, Montreal still offers a number of bookstores that are worth a visit for their unique interiors, personalized or specialty offerings, exceptional service or simply if you enjoy leafing through bound volumes amongst fellow book lovers.
Here are some of the best English language book shops in the City:
The Big Ones
In 2001 Indigo Books and Music bought their main competitor Chapters. Though owned by the same company, each has a free-standing store in the downtown area with a very different feel.
Chapters
Don’t be overwhelmed by the maze-like lobby. Anything you might be looking for can be found in categorized pockets throughout the store. It offers a wide selection of almost any type of literature you might imagine in both English and French.
Indigo
The opposite can be said about Indigo. The lobby is streamlined, if cluttered with items other than books. It’s when you reach the spacious upstairs that you can linger through marked shelves of all types of books from specialty to fiction and non-fiction to art, design or children’s lit.
If you’re in the mood to browse a wide variety of titles, best sellers and editor’s picks then both indigo and Chapters are recommended. However, please note that many titles are considerably less expensive if you order them online through the store’s website: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/
Chapters
1171, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
Montréal, QC H3B 1K4
(514) 849-8825
Indigo
1500 McGill College Ave
Montréal, QC H3A 3J5
(514) 281-5549
The Independants
Paragraphe Bookstore
If you prefer an intimate book-buying experience when browsing through best sellers, new titles or literary reference books, Paragraphe is a quiet and inviting boutique shop on McGill College, just up the street from Indigo. The staff are informed and dedicated and the store itself is organized and efficient.
Paragraphe
2220 McGill College Avenue
Montréal, QC H3A 3P9
(514) 845-5811
http://www.paragraphbooks.com/blogue/categories/nouveautes/
Argo Bookshop
The Argo Bookshop is more than an intimate book buying experience it is a community. One of the oldest English bookstores in Montreal, Argo was founded in 1966 with the intention of offering book-lovers a personalized shopping experience.
The shop is now in the hands of former English lit students, who have taken pride in maintaining the store’s original identity, as a shop that uniquely offers the best of literature and literary theory in a small but thorough St. Catherine storefront.
Argo also offers Open Mic Nights where you can either read your own material or listen to the crafted words of local published writers.
Argo Bookshop
1915 St. Catherine West
Montréal, QC
(514) 931-3442
http://argobookshop.ca/
Used Books in Montreal
The Word
The Word is a student landmark nestled in the heart of the McGill Ghetto since 1975. Its nondescript façade and clutter of overstocked shelves make its private atmosphere almost intimidating. But inside you will find an abundance of literary titles, poetry, philosophy as well as drama, history and religion. You are guaranteed to emerge with a classic title for an unbeatable price.
The Word
469 Milton street
Montréal, QC H2X 1W3
(514)-845-5640
http://www.wordbookstore.ca/
S.W. Welch
Another local institution established in 1984, S.W. Welch is located in the Mile-End and offers an exceptional variety of rare and used books. The store hours run late making it convenient for evening shoppers and the owner is willing to accept orders for books you are having trouble finding.
S.W. Welch Bookseller
225 Saint-Viateur West
Montréal, QC H2T 2L6
(514) 848-9358
http://www.welchbooks.com/
Speciality Bookstores
Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly is a creative Montreal staple. The store’s focus is mainly on comics, graphic novels and promoting local or obscure talents. With an in-house micro-press D&Q often hosts book launches for its latest local authors.
For those less interested in comics and graphic novels, the store also offers a comprehensive collection of literary magazines, journals and reviews and small press publications of lesser known authors that are sure to impress.
Drawn & Quarterly
211 Rue Bernard Ouest
Montréal, QC H2T 2K5
(514) 279-2224
http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/