Seekers Books is definitely a gem within the Annex. It's got less presentation than the nearby BMV, of course, but as an 'old school' bookshop, that's part of it's charm.

While BMV is a great place for finding deals on oversells and current popular items, Seekers Books offers something different. For one, it often has a number of rare, out-of-print, and hard-to-find items. And while BMV's used... more

I'm so happy to discover this store is still open -- it was a staple for me when I lived in the area in the 90s, and I was hoping to pop in on a future visit to Toronto. This place always had amazing books, great second hand CDs, and it was *the place* to pick up fliers for trance parties ;) I'm pretty sure the last bit is no longer relevant, but this place is still awesome :)

I brought a selected number of books downtown, hoping to be able to sell them to BMV. I made sure to bring all my classics and the newer fiction in excellent condition. Unfortunately, I was unable to sell any of them. The classics were not brand new, but were in great condition having been read once and only yellowed due to time. I left, slightly annoyed that I had to probably carry this heavy... more

Our family of 4 were there this evening trying to buy some books for our kids aged 2 and 6. We went directly to the back and started browsing when all of a sudden the staff (girl wearing red stockings) came up to my wife and accused her and our kids of "destroying the books". Our kids were just pulling them out to look at them which is normal when browsing to buy a book. We left right away and... more

There is something special about this place. I go in with no plans and I always find something interesting. They play relaxing music, burn incense, and the employees are not pretentious. They are real people and don't talk to you in that robotic, patronizing customer service tone. This place is analogue and I love that about it. I let the books find me. Seekers just makes me feel like relaxing,... more

I must've passed by this hidden gem beneath the stairs along Bloor near Bathurst. On my way to BMV, I decided to try this place for a change. I was amazed to see all the books from back to front filling the shelves. This place has every author in literature that you could dream of! (no chick-lit to be found though...) Everything from Irvine Welsh to Charles Bukowski. I ended up buying a few and... more

Great bookstore! The owner has been in business in various locations for the past 20 years. Where to start? The ambiance is old school bookstore. It's well organized despite the shelves bursting with books (which is a good thing). The selection and pricing is fantastic. This is a nice change from all the anti-septic bookstores out there. The conversations at the front counter are always a hoot.... more

This is the anti-Indigo! By far one of the best bookstores in Toronto. Hidden in a nook at the corner of Borden & Bloor, this gem is what a book store used to be and in some ways still should be.

Indigo is more of a showroom for books, cd/dvds and with a Starbucks attached. This is a large room where books are stored and kept until someone who wants them finds them.

Yes, the musky incense... more

One of (if not the) Best bookstore in Toronto~ Soooo many titles at great prices, packed but organized. Friendly staff who look like they love their job adds to the experience. Open pretty late for night owls.:)

I love this store. I love that it's dishevelled yet organized. It's unpretentious. It's musty. The sci fi and comics are placed in the centre of the store like a shrine to all things geek. The obscure reference material available is endless.

The thing I love the most is that the staff doesn't sneer at me when I ask a question or if they know where to locate a specific book. I went in, knowing... more

This place is a dump and I hate the dismissive attitude of the staff (except for the girl with the glasses, she was cool).

I hope Seekers Books will be around forever. But not really for the book selection or prices, which I don't find that amazing.

1) The Smell. (Yes!) It's a combination of incense and musty old books. I love it.

2) The conversations overheard. It reminds me of late-night call-in radio shows. I've heard discussions about Noam Chomsky, Why toothpaste is unnecessary, How the world will end in... more

You can't criticize the hours or the selection. Seems like it's always open and they have a lot of books on just about any topic you could want to read about.

It's a little 'new-agey' in there sometimes. I'm always worried I'm going to get tractor beamed up into a UFO, like some cow in a field, and then...well you know...

Nah, just kiddin'. It's a great store.

i dont know which part of the first exposure made this feel most sneaky to me. was it that i was walking down into some shady looking store? was it the purple neon glow that emanated from the ghostly light silhouetting the fenced door? or perhaps the stark operating hours of 12 to 12 that intrigued me the most.

yet inside this book lovers den is a clean, cozy, shop filled with fresh new and... more

Open from noon-midnight every day, Seekers is a basement level used bookstore that is hemorrhaging books from every possible seam. You walk inside and not only is every shelf bursting with paperbacks and hardcovers, floors also have stacks of books in all directions.

Seeker's specializes in occult books, not in the sense that they exclusively sell them, but more in that they have the largest... more

A place full of sorted books in which it is possible to find traces of the esoteric amidst the exoteric. More than often, if you listen in, the shoppers discuss mysterious topics in this hidden gem underground. A gem that is, if the book finds you !