I was thrilled to move to this city and find a small book store right in the 'hood. After a year of living here, I have taken out membership at Indigo Books, and almost never go into Type, even though I am on their street almost every day. I am really sad about that.
What is it? Here we are in a gorgeously curated space filled with any number of books you'd be happy to read. Sorry to say, it is the staff that have driven me away. While I am really disappointed by the indifference/lethargy/coolness of almost everyone I have come across at Type except the vibrant owners, I have seen that this behaviour disappears quickly when the 'right demographic' walk in. By that I mean the cute young mamas that park their Range Rovers out the front and come in after a spin class round the corner. Or a well dressed white male.
I am an avid reader and writer, and have always sought out independent bookstores anywhere I am in the world. i always find people running them engaged and pleasant. i have not had that experience at Type, and I did keep trying for a year.
When i bought the huge coffee table book on the architect Fumihiko Maki which i delightedly found there, i said at the counter as I was paying: isn't it exciting he is building a museum near the Science museum right here in Toronto? i swear the gentleman serving me stifled a yawn. Ugh. You can have your stuffy version of a neighbourhood bookshop. It is not what I'm used to. Perhaps one could remind the people working there that even a smile goes a long way.