The Indie Bob Spot: The Book Keeper


The Book Keeper, Sarnia, ON Canada

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To my American followers, if you want to experience an international bookstore without leaving the continent, boy do I have the place for you. And it’s conveniently located in a border town so you can even stop here on your way to another Canadian destination. If you have any doubts about whether you might not enjoy a Canadian bookstore as much as one in the US, perish the thought. The Book Keeper checks all the boxes; events, sidelines, online purchases, BOOKS of course, and best of all some of the nicest people you could ever meet. I can guarantee you’ll have a top notch experience.

I didn’t get to meet owner Susan C., who established the footprint for this business and assembled a dream team staff along with store manager Julie H-V. The business has been around for approximately 45 years and Susan has been the owner for about 25. In those 45 years, they not only survived the pandemic, they thrived. Successful online orders along with deliveries kept the store more than afloat and that success continues today.

The store offers all new books and a wide variety of sidelines in a very neatly arranged one-level space. Sidelines and books can all be purchased on the store website if you can’t visit in person. I thought their variety of games were especially good. The stickers also sell very well and you'll find greeting cards, quirky bookstore socks, fish-hook earrings, assorted chocolate, and art supplies to name a few. They also host various events including a drag queen story time, popular with everyone, supporters and detractors alike.

Much of the success here can also be attributed to a very strong local base of regulars, an important factor for any bookstore’s success. I have no doubt about this but my 5-star experience here was thanks to the Book Keeper rock stars I met. Julie along with booksellers Holly, Ann, and Robin will give you every reason to buy local, shop local. Am I right, Sarnia? That cold winter season is right around the corner and these are the exact people and the exact bookstore that will help make that season a bit more bearable. Check this beauty out and enjoy a terrific experience that will never be duplicated online. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED: Where Wolves Don’t Die, Anton Treuer. After a violent exchange at his Minneapolis school, 9th grader Ezra Cloud is brought by his dad to their native reservation in northern Canada to spend time with his grandparents. Grandpa Liam takes him to spend the winter in the wilderness and learns the ways of native trapping, survival, and family history. But the story takes a dark turn as the pair try to return to the reservation after the winter. Classified as YA fiction but outstanding reading for adults, a great book. Recommended.

CURRENTLY READING: There There, Tommy Orange.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: Scat Finder, Dorcas S. Miller. 150 Bookstores You Need To Visit Before You Die, Elizabeth Stamp. Trivia game. Not purchased, but gifted: A Book Keeper and Sarnia themed gift bag including pens, chocolate, bookmarks, stickers, and postcards. Thanks Julie.

Another angle of the beautiful storefront.

Floral highlights, expansive display window, and a timeless quote all in one shot.

The store is host for multiple book clubs.

View looking into the store from the front entrance.

Lots of bookstore info displayed in an appealing and easy to read manner, directly to the right after entering.

And after reading all that bookstore info, your eyes immediately drift below the sign to numerous sidelines.

Looking directly to the left after entering.

A portion of the fiction on the right side of the store.

If you know someone who has a thing for cool caps, you'll find them here.

ALWAYS happy to see these in bookstores when I travel since I either sit on mine or lose them.

These are a few of the games available and they can be found throughout the store. I thought their inventory of games was outstanding.

At the checkout counter they've strategically placed a variety of chocolates for your impulse buy (oh, and the book wasn't? uh huh) Seriously, who could pass this up?

Wide variety of stickers.

Many nasty and quirky bookstore socks.

Jewelry accessories.

Just some of the greeting cards offered.

If you have an artist in the family, Book Keeper has it covered.

Overview of the children's area.

Another view of the children's area.

Very handy for visitors to the region.

Overview of the store looking from the rear of the store toward the front entrance. Alert readers may recognize Indie Bob Spot logistics director Michelle T.