Boy, do I see some parallels here. The new bookstore in Pickering, Ont., Michael’s Family Books, which is replacing the defunct Mitchell’s Family Books, in the exact same location at 2200 Brock Road, has now launched its Web site — which is under construction, but does give some basic information.
What’s interesting is downloading the PDF of their first flyer for a June sale. It has very similar look and content as Mitchell flyers, as I remember them. Same designer by chance? After all, store manager Brian Reynolds was the manager of Mitchell’s flagship Willowdale store. Attractive, full-colour layout. A lot of emphasis on bestselling American CDs and DVDs. One Canadian author highlighted with a Canadian maple leaf logo – the about-t0-be-released debut novel Talking to the Dead by Saskatoon writer Bonnie Grove, on sale for $15.99, regular $18.99. I notice a few CDs by Canadian musicians such as Brian Doerkson, Joel Auge and downhere, although they’re not flagged as Canadian.
The DVD of the American movie Fireproof is labelled as the #1 Christian movie in Canada. And the final Canadian connection I notice in my quick scan through the sales flyer is a new movie based on Canadian mega-selling author Janette Oke’s novel Love Takes Wing, starring none other than Cloris Leachman. (After seeing the 83-year-old Leachman’s lewd, wacky and tiresome mugging and caricatures in last year’s Dancing With the Stars TV program, my mind boggles at her starring in a costume period piece, let alone in a Janette Oke inspirational historical romance.)
Michael’s Web sites states that, like the new bookstore model also being used by Faith Family Books and Gifts in Scarborough, they offer a cafe with coffee, tea, beverages and snacks, and they plan to hold various events at the store.
– Wendy Nelles
1 Comment
July 11, 2009 at 10:58 am
I get a flyer from the Durham Christian bookstore in Bowmanville, and they look similar to the Mitchell’s and other Christian bookstore flyers. I think they are published by the manufacturer or wholesaler and the individual stores just add their contact info.