The Bookshelf Bookstore in Ontario
The Bookshelf was founded in 1973 by Barb and Doug Minett. They added a café in 1980 to make it Canada’s first bookstore/café, and then seven years later added a cinema and bar. Shortly thereafter they acquired and renovated the building next door to add a music venue and restaurant. The Bookshelf has held readings by John Irving, Michael Ondaatje, and Margaret Atwood, and musical performances by Serena Ryder, the Constantines, and Sarah Harmer. It currently holds 14 film screenings a week and offers dinner and a movie every Tuesday to Saturday. The exciting description of The Bookshelf is that this is a bookstore that delivers wine which has a cinema that serves dinner and a bar that launches books. What a place to visit.
