McNally Robinson Booksellers

Independent and family is only good thing about this «business».
Th store is too big for family business, it packed with leisurely hanging employees.

McNally’s is a great bookstore/restaurant/giftshop…I actually prefer it over Indigo. There’s something more inviting about this place. It’s really too bad that their Polo store closed as I really enjoyed that location too.
The only reason I take a star away from here is for their kids book section. Most of the children’s books are located in a small section of the second floor which I think it accessible via a windy staircase (I didn’t notice an elevator). Anyhow, the children’s book section is terribly organized. They don’t seem to place the books in any order; the best order would be by age. Books for 8 year olds are near books that are for 3 year olds. How does that work?! Plus, there is no clear section that tells you this is for babies, toddlers, pre-​school etc. Whereas Chapters does a great job at labeling the children section by labeling the section of books that are appropriate for specific ages.
I wasn’t the only person who was perplexed by the setup as a bunch of older ladies asked me which books were appropriate for a 9 year old boy. LOL… how the heck am I suppose to know that? I referred them to the staff but it was kind of hard to find them on the second floor.
Oh well… overall the store is great but I really hope they can just organize the children’s section a bit better. Otherwise, great selection of local authors and best sellers, great restaurant (Prairie Ink Café) and now with an expanded take out bakery near the giftware section.

Manitoba used to be a book desert.
Remember Coles (the bookseller?). Pulp romance novels and Harlequins with the rest of the store filled in with magazines and their abbreviated study guides.
Things were bad.
Then a little bookshop arrived near Kenaston. Real books, Canadian authors and staff that loved books. That love of books has not changed and is the core of this business.
We could go on about the quality of this store and their awards, but it is not necessary.
This is one of those «Must Visits» when I return. If you live in the city and do not go here, I wonder what the hell are you reading?
Step away from Amazon and go meet some people that share your literary passion in place where wonderful books can be found.

There’s a lot of reasons to love this place but here is a few:
1) largest independent bookseller in Canada;
2) large selection of local/​Canadian authors while hosting great events supporting their work;
3) great discounted books section from all subjects ranging from philosophy to the latest fiction;
4)great café (albeit pricey) featuring local ingredients;
5) live music in the café.
I was wholeheartedly saddened by the demise of their store in Polo Park. I’d love to spend hours there wandering around and checking out the local treasures to be discovered at every corner of the store. Such great trinkets — purchased some cute wallets and fun handbags in the past.
Still the Grant Park outlet has it’s own charm. You really can’t beat that wonderful staircase decorated with the large Winnie the Pooh mobile to the children’s section upstairs.
My favourite section is the discounted books section. I usually make my purchases here. From the «Foie Gras Wars» to the latest Phillipa Gregory novel, this section really has it all with fantastic prices.
The other great thing that McNally does well is the arrangement of their books. Shelves are not outrageously towering over you (ie, you can reach everything) and the sections of books are clearly labelled. There‘s actually a place to sit and peruse your purchases. This is definitely more conducive to browsing through their collections compared to larger booksellers such as Chapters.
Prairie Ink Café (another review in the works) is a great addition to the bookstore. It has hearty offerings as well as snacks. I love their loose leaf tea selection which is something you can‘t find in most bookstores (who needs another Starbucks latte… that is so passé!).
I could easily just wander around the store and kill a couple of hours.