Oakville Store Closing Leaves a Void in Greater Toronto

Just weeks after the closing of Family Christian Bookstore in Burlington comes official word that Good Books in Oakville will be shutting its doors for the last time on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, October 9th. This leaves a huge hole in the western part of the GTHA (Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area) with no stores in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville or Mississauga. A similar situation exists on the east side, with no Christian bookstores in Pickering, Ajax, or Whitby, though there are a handful of Chinese Christian stores and a Catholic store in Scarborough.

Good Books was started by the Bronson family. Andrew Bronson also managed the bookstore at what is now Tyndale College and Seminary, and has spent the last several decades employed by InterVarsity Press in greater Chicago.

The store was purchased by its current owners in 1991 and has employed over 50 part-time staff over a history spanning four different locations.

The sad news of the closing was posted on the store website:

It is our deep regret to inform you that Good Books will be closing its doors on Thanksgiving Saturday, October 9th, 2021. We have been informed by Metrolinx that our building is to be expropriated on October 16 and subsequently to be demolished.

Metrolinx is the umbrella organization integrating municipal transit systems with the province’s GO Train network. Many other longtime businesses in the GTHA have been similarly affected.

Had this not occurred, Good Books might have been able to pick up the customers created by the Burlington store closing, but now, if customer buying trends swing back to brick-and-mortar purchasing, someone will establish a new venture in a new location serving both that city and Oakville.

We congratulate the Acheson and Kiervin families on a job well done, and wish the best to them as well as longtime employees Mary Chester and Konni Jones.

 

 

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Customer tributes from Facebook:

• You have been a blessing to myself and my family more than I could express in words!!! Loved being a part of the ‘good books’ family! Your generosity, love and example of Christ’s love for all has beyond shinned to everyone who has walked through those doors!
• Thank you for all the years you gave us such a wonderful place to find good Christian books, music, cards and so much more. You will certainly be missed.
• What a legacy you’ve created. Sad to see it end but happy for the years your store has influenced and blessed so many people. Thanks to everyone who worked at Good Books for your years of loving service.
• I will miss the personal recommendations I could always count on for a good read or special gift. Thank you for your many years of faithful service.
• Your store has meant a lot to me, and my dad, who recently passed away. What a gift to have such a wonderful Christian bookstore in the neighborhood.
• Oakville won’t be the same without Good Books. What a significant and positive impact you have made to the community. Thank you for all of the years.