Why I Love Toronto Reason #296
The World’s Biggest Bookstore
The final chapter of a book can set you up for a sad, happy, bittersweet or cliff-hanger ending. The Great Gatsby ended sadly, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was somewhat happy, but bittersweet, The Hunger Games left you with a cliff-hanger and Great Expectations – well it depends on the ending you accept as the ending. Well now the World’s Biggest Bookstore just off of Yonge Street near Dundas will enter its final chapter next year as it is set to close in February 2014. The ending of this Toronto icon, which has sat on Edward Street since the 80’s, will most likely not be a happy ending, but have more of a sad and cliff-hanger like ending. It will be sad simply because the iconic retail store will be closing and a cliff-hanger in terms of what will take the bookstores place.
The red and white exterior is not attractive at all, it hardly has any character and if it wasn’t for the big sign that says World’s Biggest Bookstore I would mistake the windowless store for a strip club or adult novelty shop. I don’t love the exterior and that’s why I didn’t entitle the post The Exterior of The World’s Biggest Bookstore. However, I love the fact that it has almost every subject and most likely any book you’re looking for – I mean a store with 4,000 different cookbooks is already awesome and that is what makes this store so special. One Christmas my grandmother wanted this specific DVD about the Incas and I looked everywhere and found out the only place in Toronto that had it was The World’s Biggest Bookstore.
The location was once a bowling alley until Jack Cole, the former owner of Coles Bookstore, bought the property in the 80’s. Now the World’s Biggest Bookstore according to the Guinness Book of World Records is not the biggest bookstore anymore. Today that title goes to a Barnes and Noble in New York City. However the argument to why it retains the name is simple. The Barnes and Noble has more floor space (154,000 square feet compared to 64,000 square foot Edward Street Store) where as the World’s Biggest Bookstore has more titles. I’ll go with the latter for my definition of big! Remember, it’s not size that matters its amount.
The stores lease will not be renewed simply because of the rent. Rumour has it that negotiations to reduce the 1.5 million dollars a year rent to something lower failed.
The question – and cliff-hanger – is what will occupy the space after the bookstore has closed it doors? The National Post suggests a big box retailer, but I personally think it’s too detached from Yonge Street to succeed and unlike the Canadian Tire, Mark’s or Best Buy this location doesn’t have the luxury of being on a major intersection like Yonge and Dundas or attached to TEC. However, the big box store has led to rumours of a possible Wal-Mart, Target or Home Depot. The Toronto Star is reporting a 78 storey condominium and retail complex after rumours a developer has offered $38 Million for the property. Another thing that could go there is landmark killer Ryerson (no offense, I mean thank you for saving Maple Leaf Gardens, but I’m still mad about the Sam The Record Man Sign). By no means is it an attractive building, but the name and what is inside the building is a staple to the city. It represents the downtown core just as much as the Toronto Eaton Centre.
So when the bookstore does close I will definitely be there.
That is Why I Love Toronto.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/21/worlds-biggest-bookstore-may-give-way-to-big-box-store/
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