Story Time
Picture books and short stories for ages 2–6. Parents and caregivers stay for the half-hour session. No sign-up needed.
Welcome
More than a place to buy books
Quay Street Books is a small independent shop steps from the waterfront. We carry fiction and non-fiction for all ages, with a strong shelf of Ontario and Canadian authors. If we don't have something in stock, we can usually order it within a few days.
2019
Year we opened our doors on King Street
Local
Authors, illustrators, and small presses featured year-round
Free
Story time and book club — no membership required
Visit us
Drop in on your way to the harbour
Our shop is easy to find — halfway down King Street West, with a reading nook by the front window and a children's corner at the back. Dogs on leash are welcome, and there's a bench out front if you want to sit with your purchase before walking down to the pier.
We wrap gifts at no charge and keep a small selection of cards, notebooks, and locally made bookmarks at the till.
Directions & hoursCommunity
Events at the shop
We host author readings, a monthly mystery book club, Saturday story time for young children, and occasional writing workshops. Most events are free; some require registration when space is limited.
Harbour Mystery Club
We read one mystery a month — cozy to crime fiction. The group picks titles together and meets in the back room with tea and biscuits.
Author Evenings
Local and visiting writers read from new work and take questions. Check our events page for upcoming dates and how to reserve a seat.
On the shelves
What you'll find here
New releases arrive weekly. We maintain a curated front table of staff picks, a wall of Canadian fiction, and a growing section of books about the Great Lakes, local history, and Ontario nature writing.
Children's and young adult titles take up a full aisle. We also stock puzzles, literary magazines, and a modest poetry section that our regulars tell us is one of the better ones along the 401 corridor.
