I Like __ A Lot
Another one might bite the dust…
This Ain’t Rosedale Library is one of Canada coolest bookstores. Seriously: even the Guardian thinks so. (They said it was #8 in the world!!) I found the bookstore on accident. I was in Toronto to give a reading and had some time to pass, so I walked around until I found this little bookstore, there were hipsters hanging outside (and in), which would usually be a deterrent (I find them intimidating), but then, I saw a glimmer, yes, I saw Rikki Ducornet’s One Marvelous Thing displayed in the window. Next to it, wow, Jesse Ball, and suddenly, like magic, I was inside the store, only it wasn’t a store, it was like looking at the bookshelves I always wanted. The whole store was filled with beautiful indie books, both from the States and Canada. It was a candy store, or maybe one of those medicinal marijuana stores they’re rumored to have in California, or maybe it was like getting to heaven and finding yourself with 72 beautiful virgins: that was This Ain’t Rosedale Library to me.
I say “was” because This Ain’t Rosedale Library is probably going to be closed down. A couple days ago, I got an email from a friend, subject heading: Fuck, the body of the email was just this link.
Last weekend, owners Charlie and Jesse Huisken arrived to locked doors. There was a notice from the bailiff that the locks had been changed because they were behind on rent. This is what the owners had to say:
Our situation, which could be told as a long story about the plight of bookstores in Toronto and in many North American cities, is really quite a simple one. At our new location in Kensington Market we found a space with lower rent and overheads which thus represented an enticing solution to the difficulty of inflated rents facing many stores of our kind. For a year we worked in this space happily, until the recession hit with full force and we began to fall behind with our rent. Our response to this situation was similar to that of any small retail business. We bought shrewdly, held regular events, did book tables for small press launches, conferences and author appearances, did not invest in advertising, fixtures, signage or renovations, kept only minimal staff (the store has one part-time staff person), and most importantly worked full-time or more with long store hours, while drawing the absolute minimum for our own rent and expenses. In this way we were able, albeit very gradually, to pay our back-rent, and maintain an amicable relationship with out landlord. While the space presented a number of challenges, including our basement flooding whenever there was heavy rain, and though we heard many stories of rent reductions in our own neighborhood we were not offered this option, but continued none-the-less to enjoy working at the store and feel inspired by our customers’ enthusiasm for the books that we were selling. Quite suddenly this changed. Our landlord became impatient with the rate at which we were able to pay her and made demands for large repayments, without providing a precise accounting of what was owing. In light of our workload and the proliferation of other causes in this city, a fundraiser remained only an idea. Instead we responded to these unrealistic demands with an informal proposal which would not have been profitable to us, but to our landlord. We received only further demands which we attempted to meet within our resources until the locks were changed on Friday June 19th. We are once again offering our landlord a choice which would be beneficial to her and allow us to re-open our doors, and are hoping that the outpouring of encouragement from the public might influence our situation. Along with this we are seeking help with organizing a fundraiser, and we are accepting PayPal donations. As we were living day-to-day, as many small business owners do for years after opening or relocating, our own livelihood has been erased, and our present situation is very uncertain. None-the-less we have seen that many people value what we do and are eager to help us, and thus remain hopeful that a resolution is around the corner.
Here’s my problem: This Ain’t Rosedale Library isn’t some aberration. Independent bookstores everywhere are in trouble. Duh. In fact, there’s this really adorable mystery bookstore in Kingston that’s about it close its doors permanently sometime this summer. There weren’t any cool indie bookstores in South Bend, where I used to live. I mean, not to be completely melodramatic, but they’re dying. And whereas I can’t deny how quickly e-platforms will come to make most books obsolete, for the time being, can’t we keep our bookstores? Please?
This Ain’t Rosedale Library has a fundraiser going on. If you have the spare change, please, kick in something. I know most of you don’t live in Toronto, much less Canada, but this has less to do with geography and everything to do with our love of books and the places where books gather.
This post isn’t about me begging for money though. I want to know about your favorite bookstores. Do they mean anything to you, or are they just bookstores? What would happen if it closed? This the trend, ladies and gents, we should be used to it by now. But This Ain’t Rosedale Library hurts a lot more than the rest.
Tags: This Ain't Rosedale Library
[…] Lily Hoang writes about This Ain’t Rosedale Library, a famed bookstore in Toronto, Ontario, HERE. Feel free to show some love for your favorite bookstore(s) in the comments section […]
What a travesty. Always made a point to stop by Pages, This Ain’t The Rosedale Library, Book City on Bloor, David Mirvish Books, and Type, when I was in Toronto. It was kind of like a pilgrimage that way. Now only Type and Book City are left.
Where I live, in Kingston, Ontario, we still have one independent book shop left. Novel Idea. If you are in the area you should stop by. I work there. We just got Lily’s new book in, too.
Canada is a total wreck when it comes to bookstores. Lordy.
When I visited Denver earlier this year, I loved the Tattered Cover bookstore. I couldn’t imagine my life without the Strand in NYC. The Strand is more than just a place for me to check out the latest fiction or browse the coffee table photo books. I go there when I’m feeling sad or lonely – I feel immediately comforted when I’m surrounded by endless rows of books and the people who love them.
Are there any good bookstores left in Toronto that carefully curate part of/their entire selection? Pages is gone, This Ain’t is probably gone…Type is left. Toronto is beginning to get ridiculous.
In the early 1990’s the first Barnes & Noble physical bookstore opened in Kansas City, Missouri, a place that is frequently a test-run for the middle mind. Shortly thereafter, Westport Bookstore closed, an independent shop wherein I discovered great writers who would never make the NYT list or even the NYTBR pages. Westport Bookstore’s front table was loaded with great literature, often published by small presses, and nary a one paid to have their books there. The windows displayed only intelligent, significant and noteworthy literature — no blockbusters. The world, for me, changed quite significantly then, though it would take years for me to understand how and why. Now, here I am, reading a blog not a book, and scouring Facebook for…what the fuck, I cannot say. I have a choice, but I am making the least intelligent one. I know this. I will know it better in ten years. And yet.
What a travesty. Always made a point to stop by Pages, This Ain’t The Rosedale Library, Book City on Bloor, David Mirvish Books, and Type, when I was in Toronto. It was kind of like a pilgrimage that way. Now only Type and Book City are left.
Where I live, in Kingston, Ontario, we still have one independent book shop left. Novel Idea. If you are in the area you should stop by. I work there. We just got Lily’s new book in, too.
Canada is a total wreck when it comes to bookstores. Lordy.
When I visited Denver earlier this year, I loved the Tattered Cover bookstore. I couldn’t imagine my life without the Strand in NYC. The Strand is more than just a place for me to check out the latest fiction or browse the coffee table photo books. I go there when I’m feeling sad or lonely – I feel immediately comforted when I’m surrounded by endless rows of books and the people who love them.
ZZZZZZIPP IS REALLY SAD ABOUT THIS
NEEDS TO BE A PHOTON FOR A WHILE
Are there any good bookstores left in Toronto that carefully curate part of/their entire selection? Pages is gone, This Ain’t is probably gone…Type is left. Toronto is beginning to get ridiculous.
In the early 1990’s the first Barnes & Noble physical bookstore opened in Kansas City, Missouri, a place that is frequently a test-run for the middle mind. Shortly thereafter, Westport Bookstore closed, an independent shop wherein I discovered great writers who would never make the NYT list or even the NYTBR pages. Westport Bookstore’s front table was loaded with great literature, often published by small presses, and nary a one paid to have their books there. The windows displayed only intelligent, significant and noteworthy literature — no blockbusters. The world, for me, changed quite significantly then, though it would take years for me to understand how and why. Now, here I am, reading a blog not a book, and scouring Facebook for…what the fuck, I cannot say. I have a choice, but I am making the least intelligent one. I know this. I will know it better in ten years. And yet.
ZZZZZZIPP IS REALLY SAD ABOUT THIS
NEEDS TO BE A PHOTON FOR A WHILE
okay, i don’t live in kensington market anymore, but how the fuck am i only hearing about this now? everyone bemoans the near-closing of carlton cinemas, and deservedly so, but seriously, the rosedale library is the only great independent bookstore left in this city. (type is okay, but their teensy store is mostly devoted to children’s lit.)
i guess this makes moving back to vancouver a little less painful. or something. man.
Sorry you had to hear it here, Kristina. It’s a total bummer. News broke in the G&M earlier this week… And you’re moving back to Vancouver!? Before we even get a chance to hang out? Doubly bummed now.
another book store shutting down? shocking. sad? sure. but this will be happening more and more. fuck books. get out in the sun. learn a real skill like a/c repair.
hey, you’re the serial killer lady, eh? that was a cool piece. the rest of the pieces on that journal make no sense to me but that piece was eggscellent.
is this to me? Yes, I’m working on a serial killer novel, but I don’t think any of it is published yet… or is it?
okay, i don’t live in kensington market anymore, but how the fuck am i only hearing about this now? everyone bemoans the near-closing of carlton cinemas, and deservedly so, but seriously, the rosedale library is the only great independent bookstore left in this city. (type is okay, but their teensy store is mostly devoted to children’s lit.)
i guess this makes moving back to vancouver a little less painful. or something. man.
Sorry you had to hear it here, Kristina. It’s a total bummer. News broke in the G&M earlier this week… And you’re moving back to Vancouver!? Before we even get a chance to hang out? Doubly bummed now.
another book store shutting down? shocking. sad? sure. but this will be happening more and more. fuck books. get out in the sun. learn a real skill like a/c repair.
hey, you’re the serial killer lady, eh? that was a cool piece. the rest of the pieces on that journal make no sense to me but that piece was eggscellent.
is this to me? Yes, I’m working on a serial killer novel, but I don’t think any of it is published yet… or is it?
THERE IS THAT NEW BOOKSTORE ABOUT SWALLOWS IN THE COLD OR SOMETHING. MAYBE THAT IS GOOD.
AND THE MONKEY’S PAW.
CARL!!!!!!! HOW INAPPROPRIATE.
zzzipp: Do you live in Toronto? That’d be strange.
Of Swallows, Their Deeds and the Winter Below is mainly used books, I believe, and they also have a big selection of textbooks etc. to cater to the U of T (http://torontoist.com/2010/02/swallows_and_new_school_go_to_college.php). The Monkey’s Paw is also second-hand, and awesome.
So, uh, for those of you in New York, where would you a regular This Ain’t shopper newly moved to Brooklyn to buy good small press books?
THERE IS THAT NEW BOOKSTORE ABOUT SWALLOWS IN THE COLD OR SOMETHING. MAYBE THAT IS GOOD.
AND THE MONKEY’S PAW.
CARL!!!!!!! HOW INAPPROPRIATE.
zzzipp: Do you live in Toronto? That’d be strange.
Of Swallows, Their Deeds and the Winter Below is mainly used books, I believe, and they also have a big selection of textbooks etc. to cater to the U of T (http://torontoist.com/2010/02/swallows_and_new_school_go_to_college.php). The Monkey’s Paw is also second-hand, and awesome.
So, uh, for those of you in New York, where would you a regular This Ain’t shopper newly moved to Brooklyn to buy good small press books?
YES.
IT’S NOT STRANGE. IT’S WHERE ZZZZIPP LIVES.
YES.
IT’S NOT STRANGE. IT’S WHERE ZZZZIPP LIVES.