Toronto’s New Penguin Shop is Lit

With my pal and fellow WWACer Angel, I visited the new Penguin Shop in Toronto run by its publisher Penguin Random House Canada.

Penguin Shop Toronto. Photo by Ardo Omer.
Walking towards the shop. Used to be a shoe repair place!

I’ve been meaning to check it out since it opened a few weeks ago and was wowed by its set up.

Penguin Shop Toronto. Photo by Ardo Omer.
The store front where pins, notebooks and mugs are chilling. We missed Chef Michael Smith by 30 minutes. He was signing his new cookbook.

It’s much smaller than I expected it to be, but it’s a great use of space.

Penguin Shop. Promo photo from Penguin Random House Canada.
A promo photo from Penguin Random House Canada.

The shelves are designed like the book’s spine, and just like pulling your book out to read, they roll out and house Penguin Random House titles! It’s such a neat idea and I had a mini nerd freak out. Browsing is easier with less people given that pulling out a shelf eats the little space there is. One of the shelves doesn’t pull out, but instead revealed an iPad where the transactions take place (no cash at this joint!).

Penguin Shop Toronto. Photo by Ardo Omer.
Three of the shelves that weren’t pulled out: The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

The shelves also have Penguin swag like totes, shirts, thermoses etc.

Penguin Shop Toronto. Photo by Ardo Omer.
Totes! Thermoses! Notebooks! Penguin swagging it up.

There’s also a shelf for staff picks.

Penguin Shop Toronto. Photo by Ardo Omer.
Penguin Random House Canada staff picks! I loved the Gotham Central recommendation ????

On the right, there were more shelves of more swag and books.

Penguin Shop Toronto. Photo by Ardo Omer.
So many cookbooks! And a mini Penguin! So cute ????

I was really happy to check out the new store, and there have been signings that have taken place there (the Chef Michael Smith books in the picture above were signed). Before I left, Emily (a Penguin Random House staffer manning the shop) was kind enough to point out the Penguin sign on the back wall that lights up.

Penguin Shop Toronto. Photo by Ardo Omer.
Back wall fun with the penguin of the Penguin Shop.

If you’re in Toronto, check out the shop at 320 Front Street West!

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Ardo Omer

Ardo Omer

Former WWAC editor. Current curmudgeon and Batman's personal assistant. Icon art by Diana Sim.

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