Everything in store must go!

Old Favorites Book Shop is having its largest sale ever! Starting July 1st, 2008 everything in the retail location must go! All inventory has been reduced up to 90% OFF!!

Old Favorites will be closing its retail location!

*More information and news on the store closing coming soon... stay tuned!

Lou Morris, 86 *Bookseller became a legend

The original article can be found here: http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/107898

Lou Morris, 86: Bookseller became a legend TheStar.com - HtoM - Lou Morris, 86: Bookseller became a legend

Louis Morris could find what customers wanted
Store grew to be largest of its kind in the country

November 26, 2004

Catherine Dunphy
OBITUARY WRITER
The legacy of Lou Morris includes but is not limited to the more than half a million books he left behind in the nine rooms of his bookstore, the shed out back and warehouse down the road.The legendary owner of the beloved — and peripatetic — Toronto bookstore called Old Favorites always said he dealt in used books. Not for him the mantle of the rarefied world of the antiquarian bookseller or those book purveyors specializing in arcane first editions, although of course he sought and sold those as well."Lou wasn't that kind of guy. He didn't talk rarity and dust jackets," says Steven Temple, a bookseller who does specialize in first editions, out of print and rare books. Temple was an American draft dodger low on prospects when Mr. Morris gave him a job more than three decades ago. "He just ran a great old-fashioned used-book store."Yet he owned a bookstore that attracted the rich, powerful, influential and famous. Northrop Frye was a close friend; Pierre Berton a friend and customer. Prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau would stop by to browse. Actor Don Francks counted on Mr. Morris finding him books on boxing and racing cars. Joey Smallwood would come to the store, always in a trench coat, seeking books of political criticism and about Newfoundland. And they had to be cheap. He refused to pay more than a couple of dollars.Conrad Black used to haunt the store looking for books on Cardinal Newman. Author Morley Callaghan loved to buy beautiful illustrated books from the 19th century. And billionaire Ken Thomson has a standing order for any and all copies of The Thomson Empire by Susan Goldenberg. It is believed he gives them to friends of the family.More recently actor Whoopi Goldberg left with an armful of books and when writer Kurt Vonnegut came by, he autographed his books with his name and an asterisk, the explanation for which is contained in Breakfast of Champions, he said.But Mr. Morris was the sort of man who sometimes forgot to tell his family the prime minister had been in the store."Oh, Pierre was in today," he'd say, almost as a postscript.Mr. Morris died last month at 86. Ill from Parkinson's disease, he had spent his last years in a nursing home, but for a few years before that he could be found in the store ensconced in the old wing chair near the cash register by the door, a three-legged cat named Damian on his lap, reading. A decade ago, his daughter and grandson, Joy and Philip Saunders, had moved the Old Favorites book store from its last location in downtown Toronto into an historic general store in the hamlet of Greenriver northeast of the city, taking with them a staggering inventory of books."My grandfather was well known for selling a book for $2 that was worth $50," said Philip Saunders. "He was like that. If he paid $1 for it, then he felt $2 was fair."He loved books. Any book. All books. The family has a photo of him reading Jail Notes by LSD guru Timothy Leary. His personal rule of thumb was to give every book 50 pages — only then would he set it aside.His daughter, Joy, said she and her sister, Monty, grew up in homes filled with books. "They were everywhere. Under the beds. In the furnace room. There were bookshelves on both sides of the stairs leading down to the cellar. There were bookshelves in the bathroom," she recalled.Mr. Morris and his wife, Kay, a former English and music teacher who died 11 years ago, opened their first bookstore in 1954 at 36 Yonge St.The Old Favorites store quickly became known as a gold mine for used, rare and out-of-print books. When the Yonge St. location became too small, the store moved around the corner to 30 Front St. West, and later when the building was slated to be demolished for a parking lot, to 150 University Ave. in the basement of the old Regal card building. At 10,000-plus square feet, it was their largest location, and they had become the largest used, out-of-print and antiquarian book dealer in the country.But most Torontonians remember the store at its last Toronto location — 250 Adelaide St. West where the Old Favorites did business for 24 years until 1994. Although he had been retired for years by then, Mr. Morris felt he was letting down his customers."He felt the store belonged to the city," said Joy Saunders. He kept index cards noting the books people were seeking. He owned at least 10 wooden cabinets full of these cards, said his grandson, more than 10,000 of them. He called them "the wants" and it could be 10 years down the road, but he would always remember to call the customer when he found the book."He was always finding a book for someone," said Philip Saunders. "He had the knack.""Dad wasn't interested in rare books; he was interested in supplying books to people," said Joy Saunders. "He was the kindest, most generous man."

A Short History of Old Favorites

Old Favorites Book Shop, since 1954 Old Favorites was founded in 1954 by Kathleen and Lou Morris, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Lou Morris was born and raised in Toronto and Kay was born in Sault Saint Marie, ON. Where she spent her early years in the Mining town of Gowganda (North of Sudbury) her father was an assayer for the Mining community.

Lou Morris, was the business manager for The Canadian Forum,(a Canadian Literary Magazine.) in the late 40's early 50's and along with Kay ran a Book Service which eventually expanded into the Old Favorites Bookshop.

Kay Morris (ne Montague) was an English and Music teacher before she began work as a proof reader for the Canadian Forum and helped run the Book Service.

The Book Service (The largest general service of its kind in Canada.) and The Canadian Forum office were located at 16 Huntley Street. In a quaint Coach House behind the Woodsworth House, C.C.F.'s Ontario Headquarters. These quarters quickly became too small to house the growing inventory and The First Old Favorites Bookshop location became 36 Yonge St, in 1954. Old Favorites quickly became the place to go in Toronto to find used, rare and out of print books.

The Kinney Montague Catalog was started in the fall of 1956 and continued until the early 70's and played a major role in the expansion of Old Favorites.

A very important member of The Old Favorites Team was Estelle Fox, who ran the Search Service. When customers were in need of an elusive title Estelle Fox would put Old Favorites resources to work and for a minimal fee per book would advertise world wide. This process rarely failed and soon gave Old Favorites the slogan “If we don't have it…We can get it!”. This is one part of the business that Lou termed “the most important, but not the most lucrative.”

Another loved and important member of Old Favorites during this time was Mary Montague who diligently kept all of the records up-to-date and cataloged. Minny as she was known was Kay's Mother.

And last but not least Alan Creighton, Canadian Author, Poet and painter, was with Old Favorites from it's conception to the Adelaide Street address, about 35 years until he retired to devote more time to his painting.

36 Yonge Street Location soon became too small and the Move was made to 30 Front Street W. across the street from the Central post office. Joy Saunders (Kay and Lou's eldest daughter) and her husband Ken began working for Old Favorites at the 30 Front St location in 1966.

After several years this location was slated for a parking lot and Old Favorites was looking for a new home again. We then moved into our largest location at 150 University Ave.

Old Favorites had become a hot spot for artists, researchers, writers and book lovers to meet, talk, browse and shop for their favorites. Old Favorites found its niche in the hearts of Torontonians and book lover's world wide.

150 University Ave. was in the basement of the old Regal Card Building at the North West corner of University Ave and King Street. This location was by far our largest with over 10,000 square feet of BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! Old Favorites had not only become one of the most popular out of print book store, but it had become the largest Used, Out-of Print and Antiquarian book dealers in Canada.

After several years this property too was slated to become another parking lot and Old Favorites was on the move again.

250 Adelaide St.W. was Old Favorite's next and final downtown Toronto location. Many of you will remember Old Favorites from this location as this is where it was based from 1970 through to 1994 .

After 20 years Old Favorite's building was sold and we were on the move again…

The final moving sale at 250 Adelaide was one of our largest sales ever! Savings of up to 95% OFF brought droves of book lovers. When Ken Saunders showed up to open the store customers were lined up around the building waiting for the bargain of a lifetime.

The book business was changing rapidly in the early 1990's and Old Favorites had to adapt to the times. We invested and researched the internet and began indexing our books to sell online! The mailing list already made up more then ¾ of Old Favorites sales and with the opening of huge chainstore bookshops other avenues were explored.

Eventually Old Favorites decided to move out of the downtown area to save on overhead and maintain its low prices. Focusing on the internet and mailing list would surely pay off in the years to come…

For generations authors, collectors, bibliophiles and book lovers have found that the Old Favorites Bookshop is the place to find all kinds of books

In 1994 Old Favorites made the move to a Historic general store in the small hamlet of Greenriver just 30-40 minutes from downtown Toronto.

The shop itself occupies a niche in merchandising history. One of Canada's foremost chain store magnates got his start here. He was C.L. Burton who went from his father's general store at Greenriver to become president of Simpson's from the 1920's to the 1950's. If you get the chance to visit the old Burton store you'll be walking through the same front doors they did in the late 1800's and into Canadian history.

During the 30's-50's the old Greenriver store had an addition, metal siding and a full second floor added. During this time the store operated as a general store, gas station, butcher shop and post office.

After a year of renovations and a new face lift Old Favorites officially moved into the Greenriver location in 1994.

Old Favorites quickly settled into their new location and focused its energy on improving the internet sales and mail order business as well as providing a comfortable retail outlet with a warm nostalgic atmosphere, rare finds and of course Old Favorites.

Our Today

Today Joy Saunders and son Philip operate the store.

Old Favorites is still growing and expanding today!

Old Favorites has served over a million customers since 1954, from students, government officials, librarians, and libraries, researchers, book collectors and book lovers.

Famous faces have shopped at our various locations. Joey Smallwood, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Conrad Black, Whoopie Goldberg , Glen Loates, Les Pomeroy, Tom Kneebone, Don Herron, Don Franks, Ely Yost, Pierre Burton, Rev. Ian Paisley, and Kurt Vonnegut and the list goes on…… Visit Old Favorites Website Click HERE. Visit Old Favorites Picasa Photo Gallery Click HERE Visit Old Favorites LIVE Space Click HERE

Freedom to Read Week! (Feb 24 - Mar 1)

Old Favorites is celebrating FREEDOM TO READ WEEK!
*February 24th to March 1st

Read a Banned Book! Boycott the the Large Book Retailers!

*Old Favorites is pulling out a fresh batch of banned and challenged titles,
to celebrate Freedom to Read Week!

*Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians
to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom,
which is guaranteed to them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Click Here for a list of Banned and Challenged books (Wiki)

You might think that censoring and banning books in Canada is almost non-existent, but you would be wrong.
Old Favorites has watched the large "new" book stores ban many titles from their inventory. Several very popular titles can not be found on their shelves or website, these large book sellers are carefully choosing the books they approve and excluding any they do not want read. While small book retailers are struggling to compete with these giants, they most often provide a much better selection of information, opinions and no censorship.

Publishing companies are also involved in the censoring and banning of books. Most of the large publishers and book sellers are woven into a monopoly, it is the publishers and retailers who are deciding for us what will be printed, marketed and sold in Canada. Similar to the state of our mass media today "they" are trying to control the information we have access to.

At Old Favorites we strive to keep a large selection of banned and challenged books in our inventory. Freedom of expression is very important to us. We do not always agree with the information and opinions expressed but we do support your right to have access to it.

Voltaire once said 'I may not agree with what you say, but i will defend to the last your right to say it.'

We would like to encourage everyone to visit and support their local independent book sellers and read banned or challenged books during Freedom to Read Week.

Author: P. Saunders

Old Favorites Book Shop
132 Hwy# 7, RR1
Locust Hill, Ontario, Canada
L0H 1J0

Tel: (905)294-3865
Email: books@oldfavs.com
MSN: oldfavorites@live.ca