Entering Lawrence Books feels like taking a time capsule to the 1980s

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The store offers a wide mix of subject matter, but one of its hallmarks is an extensive B.C. history section, which includes categories such as B.C. politics, B.C. personalities, B.C. municipalities, Gold Rushes, the Northwest Coast, B.C. cities and regions, and Vancouver.

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“I never thought there were so many books about B.C. and history,” said customer Arthur Spears. “This whole section is B.C. pioneers. The other side’s all nautical history.”

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The 24-year-old Spears had always wondered about the store.

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“I saw it had closed, and I figured it must be (getting knocked down) for condos or something,” he said. “No way a store like this on the corner could survive. But then a couple months ago I came by and it said, ‘Clearance, open,’ and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I got to come in here.’”

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Anne Lawrence in the stacks. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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Many of Joseph Lawrence’s original signs are still in use, from professionally made signs that hang from the ceiling to idiosyncratic handmade signs on the shelves.

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In the Railroads section, for example, he wrote: “Choo-Choose a Train Book.” Another shelf reads: “Some Enchanting Old Bits.” In the English history section, a shelf is labelled: “Ye Olde England.”

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The most colourful sign leads to the annex. It’s Kelly green with a sign that reads “30,000 Paperbacks” in yellow and “Through Door” in orange, along with an orange arrow pointing inside.

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“It’s probably more (than 30,000 books) now,” said Lawrence. “You can get an awful lot of paperbacks in one box.”

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She should know. The inventory clear-out sale isn’t just to sell the thousands of books in the store, it’s to help clear out her storage unit.

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“I have a very large storage locker filled with boxes of books,” she said, “Whereas I do not want to get rid of the store, I really do want to get rid of the storage locker.”

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So she is giving customers a deal: Buy a hardcover and you get a paperback of the same price or less for free.

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The one-storey commercial building dates to 1922, when Kerrisdale was part of the separate municipality of Point Grey. It’s on an unusual 43-by-67.4-foot lot, and was sold for $2.359 million in 2024.

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Lawrence knows it will eventually be redeveloped, but intends to keep the store open as long as she can.

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“I like it here,” she said. “I like the customers. … Book people like talking about books and other things. They’re usually better informed than other people.”

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The inventory clear-out sign at Lawrence Books. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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A second sign at Lawrence Books gives its hours. It was done by owner Anne Lawrence’s grand-nephew. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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Walking into the bookstore feels like you’re entering a time capsule to another era. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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Anne Lawrence with her friend and volunteer at Lawrence Books, Pat Meehan. Lawrence Books has been a fixture at 3591 West 41st Ave. in Vancouver for decades.

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Anne Lawrence is the second-generation owner of Lawrence Books. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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Anne Lawrence in her domain. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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The sign at Lawrence Books says it sells “old and used” books. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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