Bolen Books

This is without a doubt the best book store in town! The staff is friendly and knowledgable and they have the best selection of manga in town! If they don’t have what you want they will order it in for you.

Bolen Books is a Victoria institution that should not be missed. It is one of the main reasons to go to Hillside mall. The selection is vast and the atmosphere is cozy. Looking for something for a hard to shop for individual? Take a browse through Bolens, they have something for everyone!
The Children’s section is one of the best I’ve seen, parents and educators need to shop here!

My hero came here last year giving a speech and signing two of my books! It was A.J. Jacobs, editor at Esquire Magazine in NY and writer of the three books «The Year of Living Biblically; One Man’s Humble Quest to Live the Bible as Literally as Possible,» «The Guinea Pig Diaries; My Life as an Experiment,» and «The Know-​It-​All; One Man’s Humble Quest to Read the Encyclopedia from A-​Z.»
Check for author book signings!

Bolen Books is one of Victoria’s hidden gems. It is set off of the normal tourist tracks in the hillside shopping district. Its location makes it convenient for commuters going up and down the shelbourne corridor and for students from nearby Camosun and UVic.
The selection of Bolen books is hard to match. The various sections are huge, often with more selection than one usually expects from an independent (With the exception of Munro’s, which also fits this description.) Personally, this is most notable in the Sci-​Fi/​Fantasy section, where a notably large catalogue of authors is featured. If, for some reason, they do not have what you are looking for on the shelf, more often than not, the staff will be able to special order it in for you (and will usually offer to do so without having to be asked). They also have a large selection of toys, puzzles, games, decorations and knick-​knacks for all-​ages, which are sold around the perimeter of the store
One of the most delightful features is the children’s section; which sits in the store centre taking up about a quarter of Bolen’s total space. It is bright, colourful and welcoming, without disturbing the peaceful ambiance of the surrounding sections. You’ll have to draw your own conclusions about the full selection as I am relatively unfamiliar, but I have noticed a refreshingly large selection of educational books and gadgets (especially the gadgets).
The store is one of the anchors of the hillside mall. While an unusual arrangement for an independent book seller, this gives Bolen some nice features. First is the enormous amount of floor space afforded to the store, which is used to the fullest. Secondly, there are multiple mall and street exits, each of which has a register. This means that there are very few line-​ups and crowds (though I have seen this approach backfire when everyone decided to leave via the small Food court exit) Thirdly, is the perk of having the adjacent food court. While it is not as intentional as a Chapters with a Starbucks, the presence of a Starbucks as well as the full selection of food court fare feels a little like having ones cake and eating it to. (note: I do not know if drinks are allowed in Bolen, I’ve never tried so ask first)
Bolen’s staff are amazing. They are attentive (recognized me by my 3^rd visit), upbeat (except right before closing, but then again, who is) and friendly (no exceptions here).
I think it is also worth noting the unique synergy that exists between Bolen and Munro’s. Inevitably, if one does not have a desired book the other will have it on the shelf, ready to buy. Munro’s convenience of location in the downtown core, is also complemented by Bolen’s convenience of hours, open well into late business hours. Its this synergy that has left chains such as Indigo (Chapters, Coles, Smith etc.) with little more than a finger-​hold in Victoria.

It’s no Powell’s, but Bolen Books is a Victoria institution that I hope never, ever goes away. It would break my heart into tiny pieces if they disappeared, and every time I go home to Victoria my insides light up with joy to see Bolen Books. I could easily spend hours upon hours in there, wandering the aisles of books and looking at all the neat gifty things in the store. They’ve got fantastic service, so very many books, and they have oodles of space dedicated to local authors. It’s a must-​visit for any book fan!