Books and Gaps: A Local Thought

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rfmcdpei posted a thought or two on the state of independent bookstores in Toronto of late, linking back to a Torontoist essay on the subject that inspired his own thoughts.

It's been preying on my own mind this past year or two.

In that time, here in Ottawa, we've lost Prime Crime in the Glebe, Leishman's at the Westgate Mall, and Sunshine Books and Canteen in the northeastern reaches of the ByWard Market. I suspect there's one or two other stores that I missed due to memory issues.

Like Randy and others have said, concern over box-store chains and online booksellers cutting in on the action have their place. So do rent issues. I have my doubts about technology making bookstores obsolete, particularly given my usage of that same technology to find out about books I want to buy through several preferred "bricks and mortar" outlets. Online booksellers will likely be my Option of Last Resort, and so far usage of that option's been pretty rare.

I will note, however, something within my own neighbourhood has happened that might create an opportunity for someone to reclaim some market share for the independent neighbourhood bookstore.

On the corner of Tenth Line Road and Charlemagne Boulevard in the Fallingbrook section of Orléans, there's a retail space that's opened up. Food Basics moved out of there a few weeks back, and the place is currently empty.

Here's a thought: that space is big enough to be subdivided into spaces big enough to not only support a bookstore, but possibly a few other cultural retail options as neighbours to it. Music, comics, magazines, movies on disc (or USB or whatever's next up).

Meanwhile?

To the best of my knowledge, Orléans has not had a locally-owned and operated bookstore of its own since Chanticleer Books at Convent Glen Mall went out of business in the 1990's. This is something that could be rectified, to the benefit of us locals.

Tenth Line Road is a major feeder road within the neighbourhood, linking Queenswood, Queenswood Heights, Fallingbrook/Pine Ridge, and Avalon. Four bus routes feed through - or near - the Tenth Line-Charlemagne/Des Epinettes interchange.

Problems and a solution in search of one another?