There are many independent booksellers in Vancouver, and one major mega-bookseller, Chapters-Indigo, which is very nearly identical to Barnes and Noble in the U.S. Nearly all bookstores are English language, with perhaps the exception of a Chinese bookstore or two and Japanese manga stores, but there are a few that carry a small selection of literature in foreign languages (French, Spanish). Many of the independent booksellers are located on Vancouver’s Westside and in the downtown, and many of them carry secondhand books, some, exclusively.
Chain Bookstores
Chapters — http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/
The largest of all bookstores and a mega-bookseller, Chapters has everything you would expect and more. Similar to Barnes and Noble in the U.S., most Chapters stores feature Starbucks Coffee outlets, comfortable seating scattered throughout the store, a separate music and movie section, and plenty of bargain-priced books on every subject imaginable. Chapters’ bookstores also operate under the names Coles and Indigo. Online shopping with free shipping available.
Locations:
Chapters – Broadway and Granville
2505 Granville Street
(604)731-7822
Hours: Monday – Sunday 9:00am to 10:00pm
Chapters – Robson & Howe
788 Robson Street
(604)682-4066
Hours: Monday – Sunday 9:00am to 10:00pm
Coles – Bentall Centre
595 Burrard St, Tower #3
(604) 689-8231
Hours:
Saturday and Sunday Closed
Monday – Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
Coles – Brentwood Mall
4567 Lougheed Highway,
Burnaby
(604)298-2825
Hours:
Sunday 11:00am to 6:00pm
Monday & Tuesday 10:00am to 6:00pm
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00am to 9:00pm
Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm
Indigo – Marine Drive
1025 Marine Drive
North Vancouver
(604)988-6681
Hours:
Sunday 10:00am to 7:00pm
Monday & Tuesday 10:00am to 9:00pm
Wednesday – Saturday 10:00am to 9:00pm
Indigo – Park Royal
900 Park Royal S.
West Vancouver
(604)922-3222
Hours:
Sunday 10:30am to 6:00pm
Monday & Tuesday 9:30am to 7:00pm
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:30am to 9:00pm
Saturday 9:00am to 6:00pm
Chapters – Burnaby
Metropolis, Metrotown
4700 Kingsway
Burnaby
(604)431-0463
Hours:
Sunday 10:00am to 9:00pm
Monday – Thursday 9:30am to 9:00pm
Friday & Saturday 9:30am to 10:00pm
Chapters – Richport
Richport Town Centre, Units 180 & 181
8171 Ackroyd
Richmond
(604)303-7392
Hours:
Sunday 11:00am to 7:00pm
Monday – Saturday 9:30am to 9:00pm
Indigospirit – Richmond Centre
6551 No. 3 Road, Unit 1516A
Richmond
(604) 273-7114
Hours:
Sunday 11:00am to 6:00pm
Monday & Tuesday 9:30am to 7:00pm
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:30am to 9:00pm
Saturday 9:30am to 7:00pm
Coles – Lougheed Mall
#171 – 9855 Austin Avenue,
Burnaby
(604) 421-0312
Sunday 11:00am to 6:00pm
Monday & Tuesday 10:00am to 6:00pm
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00am to 9:00pm
Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm
Chapters – Strawberry Hill
12101 72nd Avenue, Suite 100
Surrey
(604)501-2877
Sunday 11:00am to 8:00pm
Monday – Thursday 9:30am to 9:00pm
Friday & Saturday 9:30am to 10:00pm
Coles – Coquitlam Centre
2929 Barnet Highway, Unit 2700
Coquitlam
(604)552-7440
Sunday 11:00am to 6:00pm
Monday & Tuesday 10:00am to 6:00pm
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00am to 9:00pm
Saturday 9:30am to 6:00pm
Chapters – Pinetree
Pinetree Village, Unit #38 2991 Lougheed Hwy
Coquitlam
(604)464-2558
Sunday 11:00am to 9:00pm
Monday – Saturday 9:30am to 9:00pm
Book Warehouse — http://www.bookwarehouse.ca/
Not a mega-bookseller like Chapters, Book Warehouse has a good selection of books offered at discount prices in 8 locations across the Lower Mainland including many of the classics as well as the latest fiction. Books can be purchase online through Abebooks.
Locations:
Broadway Branch
632 Broadway
Phone: (604) 872-5711
Store Hours:
Monday to Saturday 9:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday and Holidays 10:00am – 10:00pm
Fourth Avenue Branch
2025 West 4th Avenue
Phone: (604) 738-5711
Store Hours:
Monday to Thursday 10:00am – 9:00pm
Friday to Sunday 10:00am – 10:00pm
Kitsilano Outlet
3066 West Broadway
Phone: (604) 734-5711
Store Hours:
Every day 11:00am – 6:00pm
West Tenth Branch
4444 West 10th Avenue
Phone: (604) 221-5711
Store Hours:
Monday to Friday 10:00am – 8:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday 10:00am – 6:00pm
North Vancouver Branch
1524 Lonsdale
North Vancouver
Phone: (604) 904-5711
Store Hours:
Monday to Thursday 10:00am – 7:00pm
Friday and Saturday 10:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday 10:00am – 6:00pm
Yaletown Branch
1068 Homer Street
Phone: (604) 681-5711
Store Hours:
Monday to Saturday 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday 10:00am – 6:00pm
Davie Branch
1051 Davie Street
Phone: (604) 685-5711
Store Hours:
Every day 10:00am – 10:00pm
Denman Branch
1015 Denman Street
Phone: (604) 682-5711
Store Hours:
Every day 10:00am – 10:00pm
Independent Bookstores
Pulp Fiction Books — http://www.pulpfictionbooksvancouver.com/
One of Vancouver’s largest independent booksellers, Pulp Fiction carries over 80,000 used and new titles in two neighborhood locations. Three local news/magazine publications have labeled Pulp Fiction “Vancouver’s Best Used Bookstore.” Pulp Fiction can special-order any in-print North American title.
Locations:
Pulpfiction Books
2422 Main Street
Vancouver
604.876.4311
pulpbook@telus.net
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Wed 10am-8pm
Thu-Sat 10am-9pm
Sunday 11am-7pm
Closed Christmas Day; open all other state holidays
Pulpfiction Books West
3133 West Broadway (@ Balaclava, beside the Hollywood Theatre)
604.873-4311
pulpkits@telus.net
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sat 11am-8pm
Sun 12 noon-8pm
Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, open all other state holidays
Banyen Books & Sound–http://www.banyen.com/
A comprehensive selection of new age books, music, audio teachings, DVDs, and more. Searchable online database.
3608 West 4th Avenue
Books: 604-732-7912
Music, Gifts, Tickets: 604-737-8858
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday:
10 AM to 9 PM
Saturday:
10 AM to 8 PM
Sunday:
11 AM to 7 PM
Barbara Joe’s Books to Cooks — http://www.bookstocooks.com
Large selection of cookbooks, books about food, etc. Shop has full kitchen and offers food demonstrations and cooking classes.
1740 West 2nd Avenue (half a block east of Burrard)
604-688-6755
Hours of Operation:
Sundays and Mondays 12 to 5 pm
Tuesdays to Saturdays 9:30 am to 6 pm
El Shaddai’s Christian Books —
Christian bookstore in the Cambie and Broadway area. Bibles, Christian books, music, movies, gifts, and more.
642 West Broadway
604-568-8654
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs 10 am – 7 pm
Friday 10 am – 9 pm
Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Closed on Sundays
Canterbury Tales Secondhand Books — http://www.canterburytales.ca/
Used books at discounted prices; Canterbury Tales Secondhand Books offers a good selection of newly released titles (used), as well as classics and hard-to-find literature of yesteryear.
Locations:
Canterbury Tales Bookstore
1990 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver BC V6J 1M5
604-733-1130
Tanglewood Books—no current website
Well-stocked, well-organized used bookstore much-loved by Vancouverites offering a wide selection of gently used titles. Tanglewood Books also buys back used books.
Location:
Fairview Slopes (near South Granville)
1553 Broadway West
604-736-8876
MacLeod’s Books—website under construction (http://www.macleodsbooks.com/)
Begun in 1928, MacLeod’s Books carries over 200,000 used titles. MacLeod’s is famous for its lack of organization, and rather “organic” approach to categorization. Said by locals to be the perfect place to while away a rainy afternoon, MacLeod’s specializes in antique and rare books.
Location:
Downtown
455 Pender Street West
604-681-7654
Bibliophile Book Shop—no current website
Cozy secondhand bookstore with ample selection of books on diverse topics; great place to while away the hours during inclement weather.
Location:
The Drive
2010 Commercial Drive
604-254-5520
Children’s Bookstores
Kidsbooks — http://www.kidsbooks.ca/
A landmark bookstore just for children, Kidsbooks helps connect children to books by regularly hosting book launches and author events. Wonderful selection of books for young readers.
Locations:
Kidsbooks on Broadway
3083 West Broadway
Ph: 604-738-5335
Fax: 604-738-5362
Email: general@kidsbooks.ca
Hours: Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Friday: 9:30am – 9:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Kidsbooks in Edgemont Village
3040 Edgemont Blvd
North Vancouver
Phone: 604-986-6190
Fax: 604-986-9710
Email: edgemont@kidsbooks.ca
Hours: Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Friday: 9:30am – 8:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Kidsbooks in South Surrey
The Boulevard at South Point Exchange
15033 – 32nd Ave
Surrey
Phone: 604-541-9939
Fax: 604-541-3994
Email: surrey@kidsbooks.ca
Hours: Monday – Thursday & Saturday: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Friday: 9:30am – 8:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Foreign Literature Bookstores
There are no longer any foreign literature bookstores in Vancouver since the closing of Sophia Books in 2010.
