Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the vicinity, a few blocks to the north,
Capital Iron
(1900 Store St., 250/385-9703,
9am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 10am-5pm Sun.) is the real thing. Housed in a three-story building
that dates to 1863, this business began in the 1930s by offering the public goods salvaged
from ships. In the 80-plus years since, it's evolved into a department store stocking an ec-
lectic variety of hardware and housewares, many of which are maritime related.
Bookstores
Don't be put off by the touristy location of
Munro's Books
(1108 Government St., 250/
382-2464or888/243-2464,9am-9pmMon.-Sat.,9:30am-6pmSun.),inamagnificentneo-
classicalbuildingthatoriginallyopenedastheRoyalBankin1909.Itholdsacomprehens-
ive collection of fiction and nonfiction titles related to Victoria, the island, and Canada in
general.
Munro'smaybethegrandestbookstoreintown,butit'snotthelargest.Thatdistinction
goes to
Chapters
(1212 Douglas St., 250/380-9009, 8am-11pm Mon.-Sat., 9am-11pm
Sun.).
InseasideOakBay,
Ivy's Bookshop
(2188OakBayAve.,250/598-2713,9:30am-6pm
Mon.-Sat.,noon-5pmSun.)isafriendlylittlespotwithawide-rangingselectionfromlocal
literature to current bestsellers.
Bibliophiles the world over are familiar with
www.abebooks.com
, a website devoted
to helping book lovers find used and rare books. What they probably don't know is that
the conglomerate had its humble roots in Victoria (the company was started by two local
couples in 1996, one of whom owned a secondhand bookstore in the western suburb of
Colwood). Ironically, the success of
www.abebooks.com
has led to the closure of many
local used bookstores, as has happened the world over, but one that remains is
Russell
Books
(734Fort St., 250/361-4447,9am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.),specializing in
rare regional and nautical titles.
A suburban bookstore of note, this one specializing in general used books, is
James
Bay Coffee and Books
(143 Menzies St., 250/386-4700, 7:30am-9pm Mon.-Sat.,
8am-9pmSun.).Ahugeselectionofusedbooksisonlypartoftheappeal,asyoucanorder
familiar breakfasts and lunches, surf the Internet for free, and enjoy live music on Friday
evenings. To get there from downtown, follow Menzies Street south from the Inner Har-
bour for five blocks.
