Avid readers have been shopping for classics and hard-to-find titles at The Bookman for over half a century. As Prince Edward Island’s first used bookstore, it started small, operating in a four-room home, and eventually grew into a larger retail space with a wide selection of new, used and rare editions. Still operating much the same as when it first opened, The Bookman remains a steady spine in the heart of downtown Charlottetown.

Opening chapter

The Bookman was founded in the early 1970s by Barry Stanfield. After years working as a librarian on an agricultural farm, Stanfield began selling used books as a hobby and set up shop in a small home on Euston Street in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Primarily selling used books, it was the first shop of its kind in the province. It gave local book lovers a place to sell their used copies and shop for their next read.

 

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After operating the business for about five years, Stanfield sold The Bookman to his employee, John Ward. Like many business owners at the time, Ward lived on-site in the four-room home; the kitchen served as his living area, while the living room and two bedrooms were the shop.

In 1990, the store’s current owner, Charles Mills, bought the business. Mills said that he, too, had spent many nights sleeping at the store. When he was in town and needed a place to stay, his friend John let him crash in the classic section. “There was a bookcase that swung out on hinges, and I kept my belongings in the closet behind it. The only restriction was that I had to be out before 10 a.m. when the store opened.”

Mills slowly expanded operations over time. He built the store’s inventory by frequenting yard sales and secondhand shops, and developing industry relationships to purchase large quantities of new books. To hold his expanding library, Mills acquired two warehouses and moved the shop a few times before settling in its current location at 177 Queen Street.

The Bookman has a very loyal customer base, with families having shopped at the store for generations. Mills says one of their oldest customers lives in Pennsylvania and has been regularly visiting their shop for 45 years. Operating in a tourist town, Mills sees customers from all over the world with diverse interests, so he carries new and used books, classics and rare titles about a variety of topics. But quality is key when deciding what goes on the shelves.

 

The story continues

Today, The Bookman still operates on Queen Street, much the same as it has since the beginning. While the store does have a website, it doesn’t sell books online or have a computerized inventory. Mills and his staff operate on memory to put the right book in a customer’s hand.

Reflecting on the business, Mills commented: “The Bookman is not just a bookstore but a living, breathing thing which is the product of everyone who has worked here and our customers.” He says he pays his staff well above minimum wage and his only objective for growth is to keep bringing in quality books at a reasonable price. •

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