Toronto's Book Bar Becomes a Literary Hub
Book Bar, a liquor-licensed bookstore in Toronto's Mirvish Village, has quickly become a literary hub for the city, offering a unique blend of books, drinks, and events.
Book Bar, which opened nearly two months ago, has established itself as a popular destination for book lovers in Toronto. Despite initial expectations that romance and fantasy titles would be the biggest sellers, the store has found that literary fiction is actually its top-selling genre. This is likely due to the store's location near the University of Toronto, which has a strong literary scene.
The Store's Concept
The store's concept was inspired by the Book Club Bar in New York's East Village, and its owners, Tom Freeman and Robin Storfer, aimed to create a space that combines a good book, a good conversation, and a good drink. The store's design, which features curved bookshelves, a stone bar, and an upstairs mezzanine, was created by Toronto-based DesignAgency. The Green Room, the store's event space, can be converted into a 30-chair theater-style setup, making it an ideal venue for author events and other literary gatherings.
Events and Programming
Book Bar has already hosted several author events, including an interview with Canadian bestseller Carley Fortune, and has a number of upcoming events scheduled, including a launch for Shari Lapena's new novel. The store also hosts recurring events, such as Bored of Dating Apps (BODA), a singles' event, and Sip & Scholar, an academic lecture series. These events have helped to establish Book Bar as a hub for literary activity in Toronto.
The Store's Atmosphere
The store's atmosphere is designed to be welcoming and inclusive, with a laptop-free policy after 6 p.m. and a fully accessible venue. The food and drink menu is designed to allude to the literary crowd, rather than pander to it, with drinks named after books and authors, such as the Rosemary's Baby, a rosemary-infused cocktail named for Ira Levin's classic horror novel. The store also sells sideline merchandise, such as custom candles and tote bags, which have generated organic Instagram posts from customers.
The success of Book Bar is a testament to the power of independent bookstores to bring people together and create a sense of community. As assistant operations manager Daniel Roberts notes, "What makes a city vibrant isn't the Harvey's and the Wendy's on the corner. It's the mom-and-pop places. People know that, and they're supporting us and they're supporting books again. Books are cool. Books really are cool.
