Hager Books:
A Little Bookstore with Staying Power Story by Sarah Gordon Photos by Carolynne Palla Independent bookstores are not very common anymore and Kerrisdale is extremely fortunate to have Hager Books in the community. This charming character shop has been one of Kerrisdale’s anchor businesses that has stood the test of time for 46 years. Andrea Davies has had a lengthy career in retail. She owned Anvil Books in New Westminster for 10 years. Her friend, Louise Hager, opened Hager Books in Kerrisdale in 1974. When she decided to sell the business in 1985 she approached Andrea, who was thrilled to return to her Kerrisdale roots where she was born and bred. Andrea and her staff members are all book lovers. The shop exudes the warmth of a family-run business, which is not surprising as her sister Kim Phillips, her stepdaughters Carrie Darragh and Susannah Thorvaldson work alongside Andrea. Staff member Jaana Lunny rounds out the team. 14
If you are looking for something specific, Hager’s staff will happily offer their opinions about their favourite genres of books. While space is at a premium, there is a wide selection to choose from including art, biographies, business, Canadian content, children, cooking, fantasy, fiction, gardening, history, mystery, psychology, and reference. The space was formerly a shoe store and the shelves were cleverly converted to display books. The size of the shop limits the public events that Hager Books can offer, however, they do host occasional book signings and have had local authors drop in to promote their books.
November 15, 2020 - February 15, 2021
KerrisdaleInsider.com
