A used bookstore is opening it’s doors at 344 West Pender Street this week. The Paper Hound – which deals in fairly priced used and rare books and a limited selection of new books from local presses like Anvil and Arsenal Pulp Press – is owned by Kim Koch and Rod Clarke. The two bibliophiles met while working (for almost a decade each) down the block at MacLeods Books, the most famous – and definitely the most charmingly photogenic – of the several bookstores that cluster in these parts (see also Criterion Books at 434 Pender, Albion Books at 523 Richards, and Stephen Lunsford Books – by appointment only – at 207 West Hastings). A few more and the area will start to look like the Welsh book village of Hay-On-Wye. Wouldn’t that be nice! The Paper Hound – which we peeked into during their preparations for opening – will fit right in with its lovely wood floors, brick walls, and racks of collected ephemera (think old book marks, receipts, letters, cards, photos and grocery lists – customers are encouraged to add to these treasures). It’s a real looker (dig the custom shelving was milled/designed by East Van woodshop Nagy Ne) and a positive shot in the arm for this city. “A new bookstore is a nice counter-narrative to Vancouver’s recent trend of cultural shuttering,” says Koch, and we couldn’t agree more.
344 W Pender St. (between Homer & Hamilton) | Sun-Wed, 9am-7pm; Thurs, Fri, Sat, 9am-8pm
Very cool! Congrats Kim!!
Congratulations and well done Kim, when we get over to Vancouver we’ll be sure to drop in to see you and The Paper Hound.
Bob
What a wonderful place, great space and a terrific stock. The risk they’re running is that they’re so good, bibliophiles are going to be unwilling to recommend the place, in hopes of keeping competition for their wares to a minimum.
Yay for Nage Ne shelves! Looks great.
Wtg Rod, if I hadn’t already sold my library to your previous employer, it would be yours. Congratulations from Tony and Helen, Saltspring Island.
Rod and Kim! Congrats! I’m coming to visit you soon, I wish I could bring a bunch of my books over the ferry to give/sell to you for your store (I’m downsizing my philosophy collection quite a bit). Kim if you’re ever in Victoria again soon, let me know, we’ll have you over for dinner!!!
Same goes for you too Rod! Didn’t mean to leave you out 😉
Congratulations! I am looking forward to my first visit.