WATCH ABOVE: Babar bookstore owners reminisce after finding out their landlord is selling the building, forcing them to close their beloved Westmount location. Global’s Sarah Volstad reports.
WESTMOUNT – In the 10 years that Babar en Ville has called Greene Avenue home, it has built itself quite a reputation. But at the end of next month, the specialty children’s book store will close its doors for good. The landlord has put the building on the market, forcing the shop to move back to its flagship store in Pointe-Claire.
“It is unfortunate but I want to go with the positive: 10 years that we were here,” said owner Maya Byers.
Byers opened the original store on Sainte-Anne Street in Pointe-Claire in 1986. The store enjoyed immediate success and prospered even as big-name competitors moved in.
“We know our collection,” said Byers. “Our collection has more depth, especially in children’s books. It’s not just the best-sellers, it’s the tried and true, the books that have been read for generations.”
Ryan Hynes has fond memories of trips to Babar as a kid. Today, he’s an employee at the store, and attributes much of its success to unparalleled customer service.
“You can ask anyone in there anything, and they’ll pull it up on the computer or they’ll know it right off the top of their heads,” said Hynes.
It’s that special touch that has kept families coming back for decades.
“We have the second generation coming,” said Byers. “Children who would come in with their parents now come in with their children. And that has happened in the past six years, so that’s really exciting.”
But that phenomenon won’t be happening on Greene Avenue.
“It’s such an easy area to access, and now Westmount is going to be bookstore-free,” said Hynes. “It’s tragic.”
“It’s a sad thing that’s happening but we’d like to thank all our customers and the authors and teachers who have supported us,” said Byers.
The Greene Avenue store will have its final day of operations on Sept. 30. Whether or not they’ll look for a new location is yet to be seen. In the meantime, the flagship store will remain open, Byers hoping for another 30 years of success.
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