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World's Biggest Bookstore
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
20 Edward StToronto, ON M5G 1C9
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 977-7009
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 8 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
18 reviews for World's Biggest Bookstore
18 reviews in English
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Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
6/27/2011
As many who reviewed before, my review is going to be biased. As I used to come down here when I was 16 and loose myself in the books and racks upon racks of magazines. I still remember spending many a Saturday morning browsing through whatever topic I found interesting, from Astrology, Calvin and Hobbes, Photoshop to Convertibles, to politics & Cooking this place has it all. As my topics and reading level changed, I could always depend on the WBB, it always got my back!
Now, I am not overly interested if the WBB is in fact the World's biggest bookstore. I mean, I doubted that statement back in the 90's, as I think it no different than what Hero Burgers is today --I doubt Batman feels the need to eat there just because of the name-- and I pretty much don't think it holds any truth now. I mean, who cares? The fact is the place is massive. I only have three concerns:
1-) The place has been owned by Indigo for quite a few years now, so it is no longer independent and that is a shame.
2-) I noticed many of the prices on books to be either on par or in some cases be MORE expensive --even if by a few bucks-- then say, the two adjacent bookstores to the WBB. You know the ones, the two closer to Yonge. To be honest, since they are owned by Indigo, I do not feel the need to support them as much as I used to, and because of that, I do not go nearly as often as I used to either. As now I go to the bookstores in the Annex instead which for the most part are still independent.
3-) When it comes to decor or atmosphere this place is and has always been the bargain bin cousin to No Frills. With it's tired paint job, creakily floors, uneven wheelchair ramps and utterly spartan decor this place is not going to win any new customers with it's atmosphere and it reflects, generally the place is mostly empty.
I assure you, personally, I do not care but it would take a fool to not recognize the threat of Indigo's other bookstore locations to the WBB. With their newer decor, leather couches, incorporated cafes, pianos, seminars and in the end almost equal price, the charm of the WWB gets lost on most of the population. And now with on-line stores like Amazon having jumped in the fray and offering cheaper prices... you tell me... In the end, who is truly left? Mostly people like us, who go there from time to time for nostalgia's sake.
Not the best business model if you ask me. They will need to do some changes, and soon. Otherwise, aside no longer being the world's biggest bookstore, soon enough, the WBB won't be a bookstore at all.Listed in: My Reviews
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Review from Karl R.
9/21/2011 2 photos
Once a tourist attraction now a kind of reminder of what bookstores used to be. Back in the '80s and early '90s a bookstore was a places to go, find a book, confirm it's really a book, it's really the book you want, take it to a cash, and leave. You got on with your life. You didn't have to grieve the person behind the counter didn't know who Gabriel Garcia Marquez is. He/she worked in a bookstore because he/she knew about books. Not because he/she filled out an indigo blue golf shirt and just really really wanted a job in the low stress end of retail. If you looked like a filipina you had to be prepared you would be approached by creepy men in the cookbook section offering to buy you things if you wanted to become some grub's mistress. In short, it was a pathetic Canadian imitation of Powell's Books. I loved it. I loved the sci fi section. I loved the role playing book section. I could never figure out the graphic novel section. I loved forcing my cute plaid kilt wearing trophy GF to meet me in the computer book section and have her kiss me passionately in front of the (other) endomorphs. There were non scary bathrooms. No one tried to sell you on buying a chapters club card. No one knew what a yoga mat was and you certainly wouldn't think to buy one in a bookstore. You went there to buy books or find a filipina mistress or neck with your waif model GF or urinate without feeling like you might be walking into a glory hole. You could find obscure magazines like White Dwarf, Ray Gun, Spy, or Northern Miner magazine. You never read Ray Gun, of course, You just wanted to see what you could do with Aldus PageMaker. You never went there to buy Idiot's Guide books. That would be like admitting defeat. Kids were banished and there certainly was no place for them to play. Book people weren't breeder types anyway. Would you lay me? And no one who ran a bookstore would run for political office. You went every Saturday to see if Patrick Tilley released a new Amtrak Wars book. There's no way the whole series could have ended with the death of Steve Brickman. You began to notice in horror that the sci fi section started stocking less real sci fi and more novels based on TV series, movies, and computer games. It was barely tolerable when the whole novelization section was single handedly written by Alan Dean Foster. Splinter of the Minds Eye wasn't that bad. He earned his right to pollute the sci fi section. And what the hell is this Internet crap? Pay to go online? It will never replace the BBS.
First time I stepped into a Chapters my comment was "oh wow, they've finally created a bookstore for people who don't read books." There were places to get coffee, places to sit and copy down recipes from recipe books you had no intention of buying. There were CD listening posts and software counters.
And there was no one in a dirty sleeping bag out front begging for spare change.
That's not a book store.
World's Biggest Bookstore had none of that and still has none of it. It still has lots of books and magazines of all kinds and newspaper from all over. It still has a guy or gal in a dirty sleeping bag begging for change. -
Review from Tina D.
Mississauga, ON
6/27/2011
You really can't go wrong with this place. How can you? It's huge. If you can't find your book just give up and order online.
This is a great bookstore if you want to browser. There isn't really many places where you can sit and read a little like in a Chapters. Even the floor isn't great since they have tile everywhere. However, if you're looking for some specific or can't seem to make your mind, come here. -
Review from Spiro P.
Toronto, ON
12/11/2010
Keep it in mind that the place use to be a former bowling alley! This contributes to the no frills look of the bookstore.
This place has more book titles than any other bookstore that I have been to. The staff are always friendly and attentative. They periodically ask me if they can help me find a particular title.
Once, I forgot an ID card here and they called me and left a message on my voicemail.
During another visit, I was disappointed with Indigo Books (the owner) because I did not receive a discount coupon. They offered me the discount and I am grateful to them for it.
I just wished that they would open up a coffee shop at this location. They have enough room to build one in their clearance space. -
Review from Eric B.
4/2/2009
Maybe 3.5 Stars....
I stopped by last Sunday and enjoyed browsing around on that very rainy day. WBBS is now owned by the Chapers/Indigo chain, but still maintains its bright lights, loud colour, and spartan decor of old.
The World's Biggest Bookstore really isn't. In my humble opinion, Powell's Books in Portland retains that title and in a much more intimate way. Yet, there is a lot of reading material to choose from here. Its all pretty much layed out in one straight shot, with few cozy nooks and crannies available. Also worth a look are the clearance and DVD areas. -
Review from Kat F.
7/21/2009
WBB may no longer be the world's "biggest" bookstore (that award goes to Barnes & Nobe in New York) but it still holds the title of largest number of books under one roof, worldwide. There is an absolute shit ton of books on its two floors, but thankfully it's hard to get lost cause the shelves are low.
Don't expect any fanfare from the staff though - they're too busy emptying skids of the latest Twilight novel or whatever newest fad book series has just come out. I kinda like it that way though - it allows me to browse in absolute peace.
Which brings me to two more things worth mentioning:
(1) The magazine section is THE NUTS. They probably stock about 500 different magazines here. I swear it's ten aisles of magazines. The music mag section is colossal and full of the best glossies that a regular Chapters doesn't always stock - I can always find my coveted Under The Radar here and back in the day they carried Comes With A Smile, which is a super rare magazine. I could spend hours reading magazines here.
(2) The bathrooms are private and unattended. A good option if you're downtown and need to empty your wizzer without any fuss.Listed in: Badass Bookstores In Toronto
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Review from Real B.
Toronto, ON
7/8/2011
Yes it's giant, lots of books, however there is zero ambiance and the place just sucks the energy out of you :-(
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Review from Chris P.
8/20/2009
I've walked past here a few times and have meant to go in just based on the name and it didn't happen until today. Sadly though it was all a bust.
First off finding out that it is owned by Indigo and not indipendantly owned as you might guess was a bummer. Then, going in to pick up my copy of "Born to Run" which was on hold for me just to get a jerk at the cash desk helping me didn't improve things either. As I walk up to the cash desk I say I have a book on hold and as I am telling him the title he cuts me off and demands the name it is under. The lack of customer service continued until my transaction was complete. -
Review from Tiffany S.
Toronto, ON
1/5/2010
A broad selection in-store and easy to use order kiosks if you are looking for something that is not in stock. The store is nothing fancy but is a nice escape from the noise and traffic of nearby Yonge Street.
Tip: Check out the clearance section on the second floor at the back for deals on unique stationary, note cards and gift items. I love a set of graph paper pattern/line paper pattern mugs I found there as well as gorgeous boxes of Christmas cards in the spring last year for less than 1/2 price. -
Review from David R.
8/26/2009
Of course I had to visit a place calling itself the World's Biggest Bookstore. However, it's not. Apparently it was true for a short time in the 80's. How arrogant and embarrassing of them not to change the name. I can vouch that both Powell's and the Strand are larger, and they have character to boot (which WBB does not).
So, it's still a huge bookstore, and you're likely to find most of what you want here. Yet somehow, even at a megastore like this, I can't find several titles on my list. Thus proving that they don't have everything. And how the heck are you supposed to use their search kiosks? There is no mouse or trackball or pad, so the best you can do is type an item into the box and hit "Enter" and then stare helplessly at the screen as your title is displayed with a link for more information. Tab? Arrows? Page down? Nope nope nope. Frustrating. And where is the staff to help? I only saw one person on the floor in the entire place.
Prices seem pretty high, unless you're in the bargain section, where I found two books for a good price--one that's been on my list and one impulse purchase. This fall we are going to learn more about British naval history!
There was parking right in front of the store at 9:15 on a Monday. Seemed too good to be true for the area, but I don't look a gift horse in the mouth. -
Review from Evan H.
Peterborough, ON
2/23/2010 5 Check-ins Here
I think my review of the World's Biggest Bookstore will be a little biased because I've been going here since I could first read. Things have changed over the years...including my reading level :-), Even though I've ordered books from http://Amazon.ca because of convenience (and sometimes price), shopped at closer Chapters bookstores because of distance, I always still come back to WBBS.
There was a nice little magazine shop called Lichman's where I would go for UK magazines however they have since folded, but WBBS carries on stocking more magazines than I could possibly ever read (including the UK and other worldly variants and newspapers). The sheer selection alone of books of every genera (and all age groups) is reason enough to stop in. Chapters now owns the World's Biggest Book Store and in turn their various stores have almost caught up to the enormous book/magazine selection of WBBS, but I believe they will always prevail. There isn't the cushy seating selection dispersed through the store, or fireplace chat of local Chapters either, but when looking for a book on a specific topic, I would start here.
Once, it was one of Toronto's largest bowling lanes, but now is one of my guaranteed stop-ins when looking for a book on a new topic of interest. -
Review from Julianna B.
Toronto, ON
5/1/2009
The Big Book Bunker was, I've been told, actually the world's biggest for a heartbeat of time after it opened in the early 80s. Looking a little seedy now, its huge selection of books makes up for a multitude of sins. They skip most of the giftware you'll find at other Chapters/Indigo affiliates, though they do have a large selection of non-books - calendars, gift journals, discount DVDs, etc.
The graphic novel section is good - the next best thing to an actual comic/gaming store - and as always, you can go onto the Indigo website to check what they have on the shelves. I was surprised to find a large selection of tarot decks behind glass on the second floor, on my last visit.Listed in: Book Shopping!
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Review from Todd V.
Toronto, ON
9/14/2008
As bookstores go, the name gives it away. This is one of the biggest that you'll find in the city. Several floors choked with novels and magazines from various genres are all on offer. This is not in any way to be confused with any other sort of multi-story franchise bookstore. The sheer volume of books on offer puts a strip-mall Chapters to shame.
As soon as you go in, you are faced with the latest published works of whatever's on offer or a particular seasonal theme ("Great Winter Reads", "Cottage Reading", that sort of thing) that typically will have something that interests pretty much anyone. Turning in any direction, you see stacks and stacks of, well, stacks. I can literally spend hours in this place, going through all of the different genres and seeing what's offered in each. The 'Fiction' section alone takes up acreage consistent with that of a typical medium-sized bookstore. It truly is awe inspiring.
I was thinking that I might deduct a point since they don't have a nice quiet place to read a particular selection before you purchase it. I usually find a spot on a staircase or something and could be persuaded into a chair pretty easily. Then I thought, if they did that, I'd probably still be there now. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
9/19/2008
There was a time in the not too distant past when the World's Biggest Bookstore was once a great store in Toronto and was the first mega bookstore in the world. It has since fallen on hard times and is not the great store it once was. The World's Biggest Bookstore is not the largest bookstore in the world and it is not even on the top ten list of nicest bookstores in Toronto. Inside it is dark and dingy and in desperate need of a full renovation. The bookstore once proudly stood as the flagship store of the Coles Bookstore chain, but now is just a dilapidated member of Indigo. I honestly can't think of a reason that you would want to go to the store because it is about the same size as every other Indigo and it's not nearly as nice. If you are feeling particularly nostalgic go and remember the halcyon days of long ago, but otherwise just go to the Indigo in the Eaton's Centre.
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from Alejandro A.
Toronto, ON
12/17/2008
Owned by the Chapter's people, the World's Biggest Bookstore was a giant bookstore before giant bookstores existed. The great thing about having a bookstore this size is that there is a selection to match.
Speaking specifically to the fiction section(s) of the store, I've been able to find pretty much ever book I've looked for here. They've got a respectable selection of graphic novels, too.
My one qualm is that unfortunately the great size has its downsides. Sometimes it's hard to find what you want. Sure, the computer says it's there, but I'll be damned if I see it. Also, I've found the sections to be a bit confusing from time to time. With all their space, they've been able to create lots of sections for specific sub genres, but that's not always good. It's especially annoying when you can't find a book in the fiction section because it's in the 'literature' section. -
Review from kelly h.
Toronto, ON
7/9/2011
Indigo without the atmosphere. Works for me.
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Review from Laura D.
Toronto, ON
12/30/2009
I don't really see why people harp on the fact that the World's Biggest Bookstore isn't actually the world's biggest anymore; it's still a really massive store with tons and tons of books to browse through. It easily has more stock than any other Chapters/Indigo store I've been to, hands down. And far larger. The building used to house a large bowling alley, if that gives anyone an impression of the size, and there's two floors packed with books, magazines and graphic novels.
I love coming here, I really do. I could care less if it's part of the Chapters chain or not because their selection of titles is the best in Toronto, in my experience. They have an excellent selection of manga and graphic novels and I've almost always been able to find what I was looking for. I've also managed to find a lot of books here that I wasn't able to find anywhere else; they were the only place in the city that actually had the Japanese textbook I needed in stock.
I've also had nice experiences with the staff here; asking someone to help me find a book was always a pleasant experience as they went out of their way to try to find it for me. Cashiers have often acted enthusiastic about my book purchases, which was kind of nice to see. I have had a couple experiences where the cashiers could hardly care less about any small talk I might have tried to create but I find the nice far outweighs the bad here.
I guess my only complaint about the place is that it's very "no frills." The atmosphere is nothing to write home about and it looks nothing like most Chapters/Indigo stores at all. It's a bit dingy inside and the lighting is a little harsh. Personally, I don't mind it so much because their selection is so great that I can put up with a bit of a worn-down, outdated atmosphere. -
Review from Victoria S.
Toronto, ON
3/5/2011
my dad used to take me here as a kid so i have fond memories of it. it is a great place to buy gifts, or to find that book you're having a difficult time finding. in terms of browsing, this place is huge. you could easily spend 3 hours or more. they have a fairly good selection of sale books (similar to a chapters or indigo) both fiction and non. they also have a wide selection of stationary and board games. i found a board game called "quelf" here that i couldn't find anywhere else. when it comes to buying books for myself i generally don't come here. but once in a while it is kind of fun.
