Nicholas Hoare
Nicholas Hoare has been a neighbourhood favourite at Front and Church street for more than 16 years. The bookstore was the second location in the small chain's empire. Montreal came first and they have since opened a store in Ottawa. On weekends, families and their kids stop by after a visit to the nearby St. Lawrence Market while during the week walk-ins tend to draw from the Bay Street crowd.
The man behind the name, Nicholas Hoare himself, was born in England where he served an apprenticeship at the famous Heywood Hill bookstore in London. Once in Canada, he decided to open a store with a decidedly British feel to it. Many of the books are sourced from the U.K. and the interior is outfitted with brick and wood, a fireplace, laddered shelves and oil paintings. There's a notable absence of prominent signage announcing best-sellers or other sections throughout the store.
There's also large plants, some plush (if not fading) couches, a children's section in the back, and a secluded mezzanine to watch all of the action below. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. Many of them have chosen book selling as a career and have worked at the store for many years.
The last year for Nicholas Hoare has been a trying one. Like all bookstores, they were affected by the changing dynamics of the industry - the advance of big box stores such as Chapters, the emergence of online shopping and the rise of the Canadian dollar. They also lost Ben McNally, their long-time manager, who left to open his own store, Ben McNally Books, after a fall-out that was widely reported in the local media.
Yet despite the changes life and book selling goes on. The store continues to have book launches and author readings at the store. In the fall and winter months they put on the Hoare's High Tea author series at the King Edward Hotel and the Food for Thought author series at Pangaea Restaurant. They also organize frequent events at the Toronto Reference Library.
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Love this store!
Question from an ignorant shopper, so please do not crucify me... Why are online or bigbox BOOKstores bad? I like to go into the independents to look through quirky books that otherwise would not be displayed in the Indigo/Chapters/Coles. Other than that, for sheer choice I like the bigboxes and for buying "sometimes useless" textbooks for school that I am forced to buy, I like the online discounts. It think there is something for everyone. Isn't there any way for the independents to form some kind of cooperative to buy in bulk as the bigboxes?
I agree. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong in shopping online, or at Chapters; but all things being equal I like to support the local/independent business.
The reality though is that all things are not equal. Online stores or Chapters usually have better selection or prices - so the best independent stores (and the ones I shop at) have learned to carve out a niche and specialize in certain categories. On top of that they offer better (and more expert) service.
There are lots of different takes, but one reasonable one is that big boxes aren't bad, just so price-competitive that they crowd smaller competitors out of the market. In bookstores, as in other creative sectors, too much market concentration may reduce the diversity of voices.
My god, this store is sexy.
There's a holier-than-thou attitude at this place, almost as if you need a credit check before you walk in. None of the sections have any signs - they probably think signs are "so Indigo" - so you make your own way through the store to find what you want. The only saving grace is the better selection of books you'll find here than if you went to a "regular" bookstore.
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This store is cute for the selection of independent bookstores available in Toronto. Unfortunately I have a hard time bringing myself into the location after the questionable customer service I have experienced. After each visit it takes me a while to build myself up to going back in, and each time I am met with the same service experience. Its a shame because this store is a nice alternative to a bigbox store and it has a special atmosphere. The service in question is the treatment of males and youth in the store. Every time I have gone out of my routine to visit the store I am instantly accosted and berated by the associates to turn over my baggage to them to keep behind their counter until I am ready to leave. I do not look rough around the edges or twelve years old. I dress respectable and carry myself in such a way. I have questioned turning over my items before and I have been told that they do not need my business if I do not. That response I feel is not appropriate. I have also been with females wile entering the store, as well as, entering at the same time as older patrons. Every occasion the males have been pointed out loudly from shouts from the cash stand to leave items with them. Only the males though. Women with their larger than life purses, even school bags over their shoulders have never in my presence been asked to turn their purses and items over to the cashier.
its unfortunate, but I will always be taking my business elsewhere and when asked about this store, I will have a hard time recommending it to anyone.
As a person who has previously in my youth worked in retail, I understand security and theft, but 95% of stores handle the issue in a better manner and are able to not make a potential shopper feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.
Hello there,
I'm not sure if Nicholas Hoare is related to the same painting family, but I'm trying to find information on Elizabeth Hoare who lived and painted in Vancouver in the 1940s and 50s.
Cheers,
Heidi
One time I placed an order for a book and after a few weeks I received a call saying the book is ready for pick-up. I rushed to the store after work and arrived at 6 o'clock sharp. The store clerk was just about to close the door and I gave him a big smile and said I'm here to pick up a book I was very much looking forward to (I was really excited), but the blank-faced clerk coldly told me the store is now closed and locked the door right in front of me as if I were an ignorant vermin (maybe I was to him). This store surely looks pretty but I felt something essential about a bookstore is lacking here. Next week I found the same book at Mabel's Fables Children's Bookstore on Mount Pleasant and the store clerk was very happy that I was buying the book because she also liked that book and gave me a few more recommendations which I also enjoyed later. I have never been back to Nicholas Hoare since because frankly speaking I don't recognize this pretty boutique place as a bookstore anymore.