There’s just something so magical about wandering into an independent bookstore. The shelves stacked from floor to ceiling, the smell of old books, the unexpected treasures tucked between familiar titles, and the people behind the counter who seem to know just about everything there is to know about books.
I’ve always had a soft spot for used bookstores in particular. There’s a special feeling about picking up a book that’s passed through several hands, wondering where it’s been, who’s read it, and what those slightly worn pages might have meant to someone else. And one of my favourite parts is chatting with the people who run them. The kinda folks who live and breathe books–recommendiing titles you’ve never heard of, tracking down an obscure author, or happily spend half an hour talking about some random topic your friends roll their eyes at every time you start to nerd out.
Whenever I travel somewhere new, finding the local independent bookstore is always top of my itinerary.
Before moving to Squamish, I was a regular at Pulp Fiction on Main Street in Vancouver. I’d stop by every few weeks, sometimes just to browse, pick up my most recent order, or just chat it up with Chris, the owner, or staff members, JP and Zoey, who always had fantastic recommendations.
Over the years, the folks at Pulp Fiction introduced me to many books I would never have discovered on my own. They got to know my taste, and made curated recommendations just for moi. And the reads were always a hit. Sometimes, I’d spend an hour there without even realizing that time has passed. It was one of those places that felt like home, and I was genuinely sad when I had to leave it behind.
Which made the discovery of Book Mountain all the more exciting!
The Start of Book Mountain
Book Mountain opened its doors officially in 2024, and the Squamish community welcomed the new addition to the downtown core with big, open arms. The shop is owned by Drew Clarke, who had previously worked at other bookstores, including Albion Books in Vancouver.
When the owner of Albion Books retired, Drew purchased a huge inventory of Albion’s titles to get his business off the ground. Starting with 10,000-15,000 books, Drew needed a whole lotta shelves to house these babies. So not only did he hand choose the starting inventory, he hand built the many shelves to display these treasures. If you scroll way back on Book Mountain’s Instagram, you’ll see Book Mountain’s very first post, with Drew working away on constructing the shelves. In a post caption, Drew wrote, “After two years of planning and dreaming, the first wall of shelves is UP. It feels magical to see my vision manifest into reality. Book Mountain is real, baby!” In other videos, you’ll see him sawing, assembling, and putting together the space–building a literal mountain of books.
Since opening, Book Mountain provided locals and visitors alike a reason to slow down, browse, and perhaps leave with a few new gems than expected.
Inside The Shop
From the street on Second Avenue, a large window gives you a little glimpse of what’s waiting inside: books, books, even more books, and a few comfy-looking brown chairs inviting you to sit down and try before you buy.
But once you step through the door, you’ll quickly realize there are far more books than you could have imagined. Floor-to-ceiling shelves creating a labyrinth of literary treasures, with multiple rooms to explore and just about every genre you can think of. Drew, or another book-loving staff member, will welcome you into their little slice of heaven, happy to offer recommendations or help you track down something specific.
It’s a little overwhelming, but in the best way possible. This is the kind of place where taking your time pays off. On my first visit, I did two full rounds of the store, moving extra slowly the second time ’round to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
And despite being known for its impressive collection of used books, Book Mountain also carries new titles. As their tagline goes, “Some old, some used, some new, all good!”
One of my favourite things about independent bookstores is that you never quite know what you’ll discover. It was in a used bookstore in Waterloo, Ontario, that I first stumbled upon Plato, picking up one of his lesser-known dialogues, Philebus, which sent me down a philosophical rabbit hole I’m still exploring five years later.
At Pulp Fiction, I ordered Schopenhauer’s dissertation, collected Nietzsche’s works (some new editions, some old),, and was first introduced to Heidegger through a recommendation from JP. So many of the books that have shaped my thinking came from those unexpected discoveries and conversations.
You might walk into a bookstore looking for one particular title, but chances are you’ll leave with something you never knew you needed.
And if there’s a book you’re after that isn’t on the shelves, Book Mountain can order it in for ya!
Why You Should Stop By
Books have always held a special place in my heart. Some of the best books I’ve read have completely changed the way I think about the world—real paradigm shifters that I discovered through recommendations or chance encounters in independent bookstores.
Even Friedrich Nietzsche had a similar experience. In 1865, while browsing a bookstore in Leipzig, Germany, he stumbled upon Arthur Schopenhauer’s The World as Will and Representation. Intrigued by the unfamiliar work, he took it home and became completely absorbed in it. The book would go on to have a profound influence on his philosophical thinking and later writings.
It’s pretty incredible to think that a chance encounter with a book could have such a lasting impact.
And that’s part of what makes places like Book Mountain so special.
Sure, you can order just about anything online these days, but there’s something you simply can’t replicate through Amazon: wandering through shelves of books, chatting with someone who genuinely loves reading, and stumbling upon a title you didn’t even know you were looking for.
So if you find yourself wandering around downtown Squamish, make sure to pop into this little local treasure. With thousands of titles to choose from, leave yourself plenty of time to explore.
Oh, and did I mention it’s dog-friendly? You can even bring your fur babe along to help sniff out your next great read.
Support your local independent bookstores and help keep these little gems alive and thriving!
