Nestled near the corner of Broadview and Queen is Roxanne Reads: New & Used Books. The store may be small, but it’s full of life, just like owner Roxanne Deans herself. After spending some time working a downtown corporate job, the urge to get back into a creative industry proved to be too much for Roxanne. So why not a bookstore? Why not, indeed. The former actor and theatre producer opened the store a little over a year ago and hasn’t looked back.
Roxanne lives in the Beaches, but she felt that Leslieville was the perfect neighborhood to open up shop. “There’s a lot of quirky and unusual shops along this strip and I thought this would fit in,” Roxanne says. “It happened very organically. It was the right fit, the right space, the right time. Honestly, I thought the process would be more difficult than it actually was.” Roxanne believes it must have been fate, because after opening up shop, she learned her grandmother grew up in an apartment right around the corner. “That’s probably why this felt like home so quickly.”
About 85% of the titles Roxanne Reads stocks are used, and it’s a great mix of general interest, history, business, self help, cook books, literary fiction, business books, media and culture, and children’s books. “It’s a really diverse neighbourhood so I carry something for everyone,” she explains. She’s seen everyone from moms and babies to business people and college kids walk in. When pressed for which titles sells the best, she offers a list that probably matches what’s in stock. There’s no pretension here, and Roxanne happily carries the Twilight series next to Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants (the latest book club pick) and Shakespeare’s classics next to books about The Beatles because, well, that’s what her customers want. “I want to encourage not only book buying (obviously), but a love for reading and for the written word,” she says. “I wanted to create an inviting space that would foster that.” Her customer-first mentality is working. The community voted the store Best Used Book Store in Now’s 2009 Best of Toronto poll.
Roxanne Reads carries the latest bestsellers and a handful of new blockbusters, but Roxanne wanted to show people that used books are so much more than those musty discards you can find in your attic. These books offer just as much, if not more, than their new counterparts, as each book comes with its own history and story to tell. “Part of my goal was to dispel the idea that used bookstores have to be musty and disorganized,” she explains. “There’s an expectation that everything is stacked up in piles and you have to dig through.” Not here. The store is cheery and inviting and everything is meticulously organized and labeled. There’s a comfy couch and a fireplace, and Roxanne is happy for you to stay and chat about whatever is on your mind. And while you’re at it, trade some of your old books for some new (old) books. Maybe stay for the regular writers’ group Roxanne hosts or join their monthly book club.
Beyond the book club and writers group, Roxanne hosts family movie afternoons (today they’re showing The Princess Bride!), arts and craft classes for kids, the occasional literary birthday party, author events, and more. When this Books@Torontoist editor stopped by, Floydie Bear founder Fiona Hickey was teaching a group of talented kids how to make sock monster puppets.
One of the stores most popular events is the monthly Oracle Café, where you can come by, enjoy some tea, and have a tarot reading and your palm read. “They’re not fortune tellers,” Roxanne insists. “They’re there to advise and encourage. I’m not a big believer in crystal balls and that stuff, but sometimes we need to be reminded which direction we’re going or sometimes we just need some clarity.” (If you’re interested, the next one takes place Sunday, March 21st!)
That’s why Roxanne Reads is so much more than a bookstore. It’s a community centre. “People come here to talk books and ideas. It’s a very free store, people can talk about whatever is on their mind,” Roxanne explains. “A book store is a social space and I want to encourage that.”
Take her up on her offer. You won’t regret it.
Roxanne Reads is located at 750A Queen Street East. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11(ish)-6, Sunday 12-5, and the store is closed Mondays.
Good article. I’ve been to this bookstore and it’s very warm and comfortable – very different from what I expect a used bookstore to be like. Selection was pretty wide and it seemed like there were “regulars” who drifted in, had a cup of coffee & socialized, bought a few books, then drifted out… Kind of like a bookstore version of “Cheers.”
If you go, make sure you read a book up in the display window chair – it’s a hoot.
I use Roxanne Reads to hold psychology book reading groups. The space is fantastic, the books are great and Roxanne makes sure that everyone is comfortable in the store. A great fixture in the community!
Roxanne Read’s is so much more than a bookstore. What a true statement. I personally don’t go a week without at least one visit to Roxanne’s store. The books on the shelves are unique. Roxanne knows so much about reading and authors. She is engaging, she makes everyone feel welcome and she really has created a little community centre at Broadview & Queen.
Roxanne Read’s is a must see and visit place that should be at the top of everyone’s list that enjoys books. I have learned so much.
This is a terrible, terrible bookstore. It’s great as a community facilitator — but its stock is absolutely hideous. There’s nothing unique about its collection, you can’t really find basic stuff. There’s nothing about its collection that draws you in. I’m not sure what the point of it is; it seems like it would fit perfectly with the Chapters brand.
I go to Roxanne Reads two or three times a week. It is the best bookstore ever, so much better than corporate Chapters/Indigo or Worlds Biggest (all of which are owned by the same capitalist consortium). The quality of the selection is unparalleled. She has everything from contemporary fiction, to coffee table history books, to Marx and Engels, to childrens books… I could go on and on.
Roxanne rules, Farrad sucks. See you all at the store!
This is to Farrad,
If you want to find your type of book, and I am sure it probably is Romance Novels, then you go to Walmart. I dont know anyone that knows books more than Roxanne. She is welcoming to everyone and their dogs. She is helpful and fun. Spends tons of time with people that dont even buy books, which is probably you Farrad. So next time you are in Walmart dont forget your books. They are in the $ bin.
I love Roxanne Reads! A big part of what make this a great place to shop is the atmosphere and the good customer service. I know the value of having knowledgeable and helpful staff! When possible, Roxanne will go out of her way to order titles that she may not readily have available (so I am not so sure what Farrad is so “Angry” about ~but I guess that is just his opinion).
I have and will continue to patronage Roxanne Reads!
Blah to big box stores!
I adore this bookstore! The article fails to mention that it also has a huge stock of used theatre plays and critical reads – last time I visited it had the largest stock in the city, next to Theatrebooks, for a fraction of the price. Plus it has a gorgeous atmosphere, and helps to showcase local artists and artisans. Definitely worth a visit or ten.
Wow, Fared, I am sorry you were so disappointed with the shop.
We are always getting in new (and by that I mean different, not just hot-off-press) inventory and I aim to keep what is on the shelf fresh and varied. If you didn’t see what you were looking for, I may have had it in the stock in my storage or I could have ordered it for you.
I do think it was unnecessary (and non-constructive) to insult the store, using words like terrible (twice) and horrendous and to suggest it had no reason to exist. Though you may not like the shop, any and all bookstores have purpose and serve their communities in a variety of ways – hopefully fostering the love of books and reading.
Fortunately there are other bookstores (big and small) in the city, that I hope offer you what you are looking for in a book buying experience.
No, it’s not Romance novels that I go for. Actually — if I wanted to find ‘walmart’ literature, I’d be more likely to find it here, than something I’d actually want — something, you know, good.
The article itself says so itself, “There’s no pretension here, and Roxanne happily carries the Twilight series next to Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants (the latest book club pick) and Shakespeare’s classics next to books about The Beatles because, well, that’s what her customers want.”
There is nothing difficult, unique, or hard to find about this booklist. This is not a curated selection. Have you ever been into a large format Chapters? Step inside — you’ll see a cutout for twilight, Water for Elephants as a ‘Heather’s club’ selection, an entire shelf dedicated to Williams plays and associated manga, and a music photography section crammed full of big, beautiful hardbacks dedicated to the Beatles/Stones/etc. etc.
The store does serve as a great community facilitator. As a book store, it offers nothing unique, fresh, or interesting.
I actually thought there was a great point to my post, considering the article mentions how varied your selection is, and it’s mentioned that a particular interest is giving people a new look at used books, it’s probably fantastically appropriate for a member of the community to voice their displeasure.
I’m with Farrad here…if anyone is doing any insulting it’s Heather B.
Some book enthusiasts–taking issue with free speech. This bookstore does not sound like it would suit those with a real literary bent, nor those who are looking for good catalogues of philosophy, history, politics, etc…
In other words, maybe a fine “whimsy” shop for browsers and gift-buyers? Okay, but don’t condemn valid criticism. This is the BOOKS section after all.
Derek,
I agree there is no need for harsh words at all – from anyone.
As for our stock, we carry a variety of history, politics, biography, cultural studies, philosophy and psychology and literary criticism – including hard to find titles. It’s a small store but it’s not just about mainstream titles. I hope you’ll pop in to see for yourself.
Oh – I forgot our business, spirituality, art/architecture, theatre, cookbooks, self-help and health, children’s section and rare books too.
And fiction.