Toronto's most famous bookstore is relocating

The world's oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop in Toronto is officially starting a new chapter.

After nearly a decade at 499 Church St. and more than 50 years in Toronto, Glad Day Bookshop is relocating to Toronto's Queen West neighbourhood, following a heavy fundraising campaign amid the imminent threat of eviction.

Since 1970, the shop has offered the widest possible selection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit and queer literature.

Last year, the bookshop transparently shared its struggles with its customers and the ommunity, revealing that it was on the brink of eviction. 

"Glad Day has reached a crisis point. We have been going into debt almost every month for the last two years," the shop's team wrote on Instagram, citing rising operational costs and the end of COVID-19 subsidies. The team added that their landlord had been "patient" but noted that if they failed to provide him a lump sum payment of $100,000 in July, they would be evicted.

In response, more than 2,400 people donated nearly $200,000 for the shop, which was enough to buy the store more time and secure a new, more affordable location. The shop's current Church Street space will remain open until at least the end of June and for Pride weekend.

Glad Day's new location will be entirely non-profit, and will include a bookstore, café counter, community lounge, and event space. Still, the new space is a short-term solution, but one the team hopes will give them time to work with the City of Toronto to find a more permanent home.

 

 

 

 

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"Glad Day would not have survived without your help. A year ago, we were facing immediate eviction. We set a goal of $300,000 to avoid shutting down and give us one more year to find creative ways of surviving," the shop's team wrote in an announcement on Instagram.

"This funding gave us time to find this practical solution that reduces our facility costs by 95 per cent while we continue to explore long-term spaces and creative strategies. The combined efforts of donors, customers, artists, volunteers, staff, stakeholders and supporters near and far has made this new chapter possible," they continued.

Since 2015, Glad Day has paid nearly $120,000 to 2SLGBTQ+ writers, performers, and artists for readings, panels, and events. The bookshop is also home to Canada's longest-running drag brunch and is known for its events programming, such as trivia nights and book clubs.

The bookshop was founded by Jearld Moldenhauer, with its first Toronto location being at 65 Kendal Ave. It later moved to Yonge Street and then to Church Street in 2016.

As part of its relocation, the bookshop is appealing to its community once again for fundraising support.

"We will require new funds to set up and operate in this short-term space on Lisgar, which is a brand new, fully accessible building with tons of potential, but it is currently a blank canvas. We will need furniture, bookshelves, books and merchandise. While our facility costs will be very low in this new model, our revenue may also be low," the team wrote.

"We are not sure what the revenue from sober drinks, books, merch and ticket sales will look like. That's why we need your help to outfit the space, provide an initial fund for operating costs, and to keep paying authors and artists for events."

City Councillor Chris Moise acknowledged the challenges of the shop's latest move while simultaneously expressing support for its future.

"I am disappointed that @gladdaybookshop is being forced to move out of their space in the heart of the Church Wellesley Village but am excited for their next chapter," Moise wrote on Instagram.

"Our community, along with our allies, stepped up financially to keep Glad Day alive and serving our community as far more than just a bookshop. I have been working behind the scenes with City Staff and a group of community leaders to secure a new community space in The Village and look forward to welcoming Glad Day back shortly. Stay tuned for updates this summer."

The shop's team is looking to raise another $150,000 to keep the shop alive during this period of "change and transition." 

According to the bookshop's website, $30,000 will serve as funding for author, performer, and artist fees, $30,000 for curating new books and art, $25,000 to design and furnish the new space, $25,000 to subsidize six months of operations, $20,000 for moving and administration costs, $15,000 to support continued operations on Church Street during the transition, and $5,000 for donation processing fees.

Glad Day confirmed that they will remain at their Queen West location for at least a year, and potentially longer, depending on how discussions with the City unfold.

Donations can be made online via the bookshop's website. Glad Day Bookshop's new store will be located at 32 Lisgar St.