Bookstores
BMV Express
BMV Express recently popped up on Queen West, across the street from the CTV building in the space formerly occupied by St. Patricks convenience store, but just what exactly is a BMV Express anyway?
The shop looks like a used bookstore at the moment, with sketchy carpeting and handmade placards proclaiming various sections. Having opened only last week, it recently got some better signage to let people know that it is indeed open for business. The vinyl sign is an upgrade from the cute hand drawn cardboard sign in the window. Unlike other BMV Books locations in the city, for the time being this location is dealing explicitly in remaindered books.
Some might call the choice in location crazy, being only a 1/2 a block away from the carcass of the much beloved Pages Bookstore, (still empty after losing its lease back in the fall) and another block away from a mega Chapters, but BMV owner Patrick Templeton has an ace up his sleeve as the owner of the building itself. With no worries of befalling the same fate as Pages, Templeton is setting up shop as a 6-month test run to see if having an indie bookstore in this over-commercialized, big business stretch of Queen West is viable. If everything goes well, the plans are to shut down and renovate into the second floor and turning it into a full service BMV, selling new and used books, magazines and videos.
Because they're dealing primarily in remaindered books for now, not only will you find hard-to-find titles and authors here, but the prices are mindbogglingly low. For instance in the "Queen Specials" section sits a massive tome of Don Martin Mad Magazine Illustrations, marked down from $180 to only $50, or a Scorsese DVD box set for $20, regularly $50.
There is a huge selection of art books as well as shelves stocked with everything from children's lit to classics, to a wide selection of graphic novels - all at bargain prices.
While I browsed the shelves at 3pm on a weekday, I had to jockey for position amidst the throngs of people streaming in from the street which gives me the impression that this bookstore is here to stay. Indie bookstore lovers know how popular BMV's Queen Street predecessor was, and are likely rejoicing at the return of the indie bookstore to the strip. Like all business great and small, big ones like Chapters do have their place, but there is certainly something to be said for the browse-ability and like-ability of a smaller bookstore, even with the sketchy carpets.
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The selection and the way the books are organized makes for a great experience. And the prices are unbelievable.
I'm going to go back for another visit this week. While I'm there I plan to get some of those cool oversized coffee table books (that I wouldn't normally buy at almost $100 bucks), for about 70% off.
I love this store and I hope it's here to stay.
it is nothing at all like those bargain book stores. i'm wondering if KR and Mike have even been there ... don't judge a book by it's cover.
Many times I've gone in wanting to get something cheap and walk out instead with some out-of-print books or rare titles. Plus they priced their used books quite reasonably compare to other used book stores (but they get snapped up quite quickly too).
I hope their new location works.
Mr. Templeton - a job well done at wrecking a whole families livelihood for your latest "experiment".
i would rather go to a big box store, and pay double, then go into BMV books. opening this store is one of the worst idea's i've heard besides that time that britney spears shaved her head.
may god have mercy on your soul.
Those who live and work in the area knew the family who operated St Pat's quite well and heard all their stories about how callously and disrespectfully they were treated by Mr Templeton and his people. I'll confirm the above story about the impossible to afford rent increase, and it was given to them with essentially no notice.
Patrick Templeton, you are an asshole. I hope your business fails miserably. Karma is a bitch, and I hope it hits you hard.
I'd rather shop at Chapters. For real.
Does anyone know how much rent St. Pat's was paying before the sudden increase? Was it commensurate to what other stores are paying in the neighbourhood. If the increase is way more than the market level, then maybe we could made the argument that Templeton is a meanie.
Plus we're forgetting that a Shopper's Drug Mart is going to open just down the street. How would that affect St. Pat if they stayed on?
Used is ok.