By Dory Carr Harris

TYPE’s new home on the Danforth. Photo by Val Dodge.
You know your avenues have been gentrified when a chi-chi bookstore moves into the neighbourhood. Such is the fate of the Danforth strip, now home to the latest branch of Toronto retailers TYPE Books, the third location to crop up since the store first opened its doors in 2006. The inaugural Queen West location (right across the street from Trinity-Bellwoods) made a name for itself by specializing in a quirky, ecclectic mix of books encompassing a wide range of genres—design, art and architecture, contemporary fiction and non-fiction, as well as new and classic children’s books. This diverse mix was inspired by what owners Joanne Saul and Samara Walbohm (the latter pictured below with Forest Hill and Danforth branch consultant Walter Winogradow) felt best expressed their preferences (they both have English Literature PhDs, so their taste is to be trusted). And if there’s a book missing, all you have to do is request it and it’s sure to appear. “We are creating a very service-oriented boutique or ‘book-tique’ which will reflect the needs of the community,” says Saul, meaning the selection will be updated to satisfy the desires of the patrons.
This cozy, we’ll-get-what-you-need vibe fits in perfectly with the laidback, new parent Riverdale demographic. To further engage the locals, Saul and Walbohm created a “Kids Lounge” upstairs at the Danforth location offering storytelling, language, art, and drama classes, as well as bookmaking workshops.
It’s understandable if you just can’t wait to sit in that comfy chair in the window (pictured above), but the good news is you won’t have to! TYPE Danforth hopes to be able to open their doors at 503 Danforth Avenue by next Friday, May 15, and will be having an opening celebration the weekend of May 30. The TYPE website is not yet up and running, but check back in soon to get more details about the new store and the opening weekend’s events.
The store launch is on Friday May 30, from 6–8 p.m. More photos of TYPE’s new digs after the fold.

Photos by Val Dodge