World's Biggest Bookstore
Encyclopedia
The World's Biggest Bookstore is a bookstore located in Toronto
, Ontario
, at 20 Edward St, just north of the Toronto Eaton Centre
. It is currently owned by Indigo Books and Music
.
and Carl Cole, former owners of Coles Bookstore
.
At the time of its opening in 1980, in a converted bowling alley, it went unchallenged in its claim as the biggest bookstore in the world. Although it retains the name today, the Guinness Book of World Records currently lists a Barnes and Noble outlet in New York City
as the world's largest bookstore based on floor space, although New York's the Strand and Portland's Powell's Books
are usually considered the largest based on shelf-space. Nevertheless, World's Biggest Bookstore still claims the title on the basis that it depends on how "biggest" is defined: while Barnes and Noble has more floor space, World's Biggest Bookstore carries more titles.
The World's Biggest Bookstore was the first of the book "superstores", and was purchased from Coles by Chapters Inc
, which itself was formed from the merger of the Coles bookstore chain and SmithBooks. Although it retains its unique name, its stock, distribution and advertising are closely integrated with the Chapters and Indigo
chains.
It is noted for its bright lights and over 20 kilometres of bookshelves.
The store made a brief appearance in the movie Short Circuit 2
when the main character, a robot named Johnny 5, enters the store and creates chaos as he reads through the books.
These self-deprecating slogans are in the style of Toronto's landmark bargain store, Honest Ed's
.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, at 20 Edward St, just north of the Toronto Eaton Centre
Toronto Eaton Centre
The Toronto Eaton Centre is a large shopping mall and office complex in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, named after the now-defunct Eaton's department store chain that once anchored it. In terms of the number of visitors, the shopping mall is Toronto's top tourist attraction, with around one...
. It is currently owned by Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books & Music Inc. is a Canadian retail bookstore chain. The company was founded in 1996 by CEO Heather Reisman, wife of Gerry Schwartz, majority owner and CEO of Onex Corporation....
.
History
The store was started in 1980 by Jack ColeJack Isadore Cole (businessman)
Carl and Jack Cole were two brothers who created the successful bookstore chain Coles bookstore as well as the world famous publication of Coles Notes. Jack and Carl were born Isadore and Carl Collofsky...
and Carl Cole, former owners of Coles Bookstore
Coles (bookstore)
Coles is a Canadian bookstore chain owned by Indigo Books and Music. Coles currently serves as Indigo's brand for small-scale bookstores in locations such as shopping malls...
.
At the time of its opening in 1980, in a converted bowling alley, it went unchallenged in its claim as the biggest bookstore in the world. Although it retains the name today, the Guinness Book of World Records currently lists a Barnes and Noble outlet in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as the world's largest bookstore based on floor space, although New York's the Strand and Portland's Powell's Books
Powell's Books
Powell's Books is a chain of bookstores in Oregon's Portland metropolitan area. Powell's headquarters, dubbed Powell's City of Books, claims to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. Powell's City of Books is located in the Pearl District on the edge of downtown and...
are usually considered the largest based on shelf-space. Nevertheless, World's Biggest Bookstore still claims the title on the basis that it depends on how "biggest" is defined: while Barnes and Noble has more floor space, World's Biggest Bookstore carries more titles.
The World's Biggest Bookstore was the first of the book "superstores", and was purchased from Coles by Chapters Inc
Chapters
Chapters is a Canadian big box bookstore banner owned by Indigo Books and Music. Formerly a company in its own right competing with Indigo, the combined company has continued to operate both banners since their merger in 2001.-History:...
, which itself was formed from the merger of the Coles bookstore chain and SmithBooks. Although it retains its unique name, its stock, distribution and advertising are closely integrated with the Chapters and Indigo
Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books & Music Inc. is a Canadian retail bookstore chain. The company was founded in 1996 by CEO Heather Reisman, wife of Gerry Schwartz, majority owner and CEO of Onex Corporation....
chains.
It is noted for its bright lights and over 20 kilometres of bookshelves.
The store made a brief appearance in the movie Short Circuit 2
Short Circuit 2
Short Circuit 2 is a 1988 comedy science fiction film, the sequel to 1986's film Short Circuit. It was directed by Kenneth Johnson, and starred Fisher Stevens as Ben Jahrvi , Michael McKean as Fred Ritter, Cynthia Gibb as Sandy Banatoni, and Tim Blaney as the voice of Johnny 5 Short Circuit 2 is a...
when the main character, a robot named Johnny 5, enters the store and creates chaos as he reads through the books.
Advertising
In the late 1990s, with customers' book shopping habits radically changing after the launch of Chapters and Indigo, the store chose to play up its "no frills" image with an advertising campaign that included the following slogans:- "We occasionally have soft mood lighting. But then we replaced the burnt out fluorescent tubes."
- "Like other bookstores, we have places to sit. But why aggravate your hemorrhoids?"
- "Books priced so low even people who don't read too good is buying them."
These self-deprecating slogans are in the style of Toronto's landmark bargain store, Honest Ed's
Honest Ed's
Honest Ed's is a landmark discount store located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is named for its proprietor, Ed Mirvish, who opened the store in 1948 and oversaw its operations for almost sixty years, until his death in 2007.-Location:...
.