NDJ Books
504 Yonge St. 
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Phone: 416.925.2080
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Despite declining in numbers during the recent 10 years, the used bookstore is still a Toronto staple. The uniqueness of each store is what keeps customers coming back to their favourite - whether it's the selection of books, the feel of the store, or the staff.
In the case of NDJ Books, it's most definitely the latter. Located at 504 Yonge Street, between College and Wellesley, the store is always staffed by the owner and operator - Nebojsa Knezic, who makes every customer feel like a long-lost friend.
No matter what I'm looking for when I visit, Nebojsa will spring from the cashier seat to scour the overflowing shelves of the one-room store, or failing to find anything, the dangerously crowded storage space in the back - complete with a bookcase that acts as a rotating wall. And when I have thirty (or a lot more) minutes of spare time, I talk with him on a range of subjects, from philosophy to politics to soccer. That, for me, is what makes the store a pleasure to be in.
A recent conversation started when I asked for a copy of "Molto Italiano", Mario Batali's cookbook. While Nebojsa couldn't find it, he let me into the chaotic storage area to look for it myself, after which point I forgot about my book and spent the next hour listening to him talk about life.
Mr Knezic left Sarajevo with his family to find peace in Toronto, which he praises as a vibrant multicultural city with little overt racism. As a journalist and a writer, his options in Canada were limited - as he put it "...as an immigrant, you can open a pizza store, a dollar store, or drive a cab". He chose to put his money into a bookstore, as that was a natural extension of his love of literature and the written word - and for 11 years, NDJ Books has survived the domination of the Chapters-Indigo behemoth and the rise of the online retailers.
Mr Knezic laments the closure of the many bookstores that used to be a more common feature of Toronto's streets, but he is hopeful that his knowledge of almost all subjects will keep NDJ Books going for many years more.
Although I did not leave with "Molto Italiano", I did buy a copy of "Balkan Ghosts", Robert D. Kaplan's travelogue of the Balkans. It seemed appropriate, and I will definitely be back soon and chat with Nebojsa again.
Comments (13)
I love this store... I had a long talk with Mr Knezic about physics, William S. Burroughs, writing, getting published, Phillip K Dick, and about a dozen other topics in a winding, verbal adventure... I should go back this week
He is also very up on occult knowledge. If you are looking for a special title, ask him as it may not be on display.
The "chaotic storage area" is scary. I went back there with a boyfriend once after being invited to look around. It's not for the claustrophobic. He told us about his "girls", although we couldn't figure out what relationship they were to him.
Unfortunately I've learned that some of the books he sells are cheaper online and that brings up a quandary: Buy the cheaper one or support the guy who owns the indie store and works long hours there alone.
For many years now, this has been one of my favorite used bookstores in Toronto and I have spent many hours looking around and talking with the owner about books and life.
I'm not really sure what "girls" your talking about. The only two girls I have ever heard him talk about are his daughter and wife. So I guess there is nothing left for you to figure out. Your comments are very bizarre.
One more thing...as you can see in the above picture the storage area is tight and cozy, reminds of old European style bookstores. If you didn't appreciate his generosity to allow you a peek, next time try Chapters, its less "chaotic".
I've been a customer for a long time at NDJ's.
I like to talk to owner.He's very knowledgeable.He also recommended me a few good authors and titles that I still enjoy.
Unfortunately,bookstores like this are disappearing and they are very scarce in town.
I'm very surprised about your comment about some "girls".It's more then bizarre.
I'm not sure why he let you in to the storage area?!
You have to be looking for something else,perhaps something like this...
http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com/it/2007/12/rolfs-very-subj.html
Not books for sure.
Regards
I've been visiting NDJ since it opened ten years ago. It's a great place to pick upbooks on Philosophy especially. Nebo always spins out a good tale to pass the time. I highly recommend that all visit him, and so keep the second hand bookshops a part of Toronto.
One thing you can't get at the giant retailers are rare and out of print titles. Fortunately, used bookstores are virtually overflowing with these. The last time I was at NDJ I found a yellowed copy of a late 1960s screed on technology that had a section listing 100 predictions for the year 2000 (only three of which, by my count, have ever come to fruition). Then there's the philosophy section, which is a universe unto itself. And as always, there is conversation available on everything from politics to cosmology.
Nebojsa's journey from Sarajevo to Toronto was related to me in stories and anecdotes over the course of my many visits to the store. He is a writer, a book lover, a tenacious entrepreneur and a fascinating person. I still remember my first purchase back in 1998 - a volume on classical philosophy - and each time I return to NDJ my reading list gets a bit longer.
This is a great place to find books, specially philosophy . excellent place to talk with Nebo about life , Toronto, books, I am visiting this store many years and always find very good books very good prices, and very nice welcome. i hope you will be there many years, . manuel.
What an amazing store! Traveling from Kitchener, I looked out of my hotel window and saw the store, googled it and saw this website, and headed on out for a fantastic hour or so's browsing. A lot of amazing titles, and the owner is SO friendly. He showed me the back room, and I would LOVE to be able to spend more time in there. I was looking for a particular title which he didn't have, and still managed to spend some money with some treasures I hadn't realised I wanted! :)
A treasure in it's own right.
Incunabula! An interdimensional nexus in spacetime. At first ~ you may not find what you are looking for ~ you will find what you should be looking for ~ what you have foregotten, to Remember. Be sure to take a lunch and lots of money. Preferably other people's money. Seek. The proprietor is your guide. This vault in time, an arboreal archive filled with volumes of encoded solar energy, place holders for low entropy; (is) beyond earthly fiat value. As your gaze passes through the leaves, your cortex is quantum entangled with the thoughts and realizations of others who have held these streams of intercourse with other minds before you. Seek and surely ye shall find. Ask and surely ye shall receive. No possibility is too small to be a possibility. Treasures await. Bring your dreams. With Nabo, all things are possible. May the Sun be with you!
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