G ..
Yelp
If you are into graphic novels this is the place to go - I would say especially if you're not big on the Marvel/DC superhero comics that all too often people seem to think is all there is to graphic novels. (Although, I brought a friend who had only read mainstream comics and horror manga, and after browsing the shelves for about 20 minutes he found a big stack of books he couldn't resist buying. So I think there's a little bit something for everyone on these shelves.) As a fan of memoir style graphic novels and indie comics, I had seen the Drawn and Quarterly name in the front of many books over the years, so I had to visit this place.
D+Q has work by local artists, some zines, French and English books and comics, a selection of poetry, novels, some new releases and other books, some signed books, but mind that this store is very graphic novel focused. I see some reviews saying that this is a book store but they have a small selection of everything but graphic novels...Drawn & Quarterly, as their website says, "has grown from a single-issue magazine to an internationally renowned publisher of the world's best cartoonists." If you're just walking on off there street and see "LIVRES" in the window then I can see how you might just think Drawn & Quarterly is a book store, but indie comics is their history. Cartoons are their whole thing! And I love them for it, and for folks who are into indie comics it's very cool to have this store in Montreal. With that said, many of the books I got today happened to be non-comic books. I was surprised to see a single copy of Continuum by Chella Man at the register counter, I had heard he put this out recently and it seems I'd forgotten to add it to my to-read list, so I added it as a last minute purchase as I was checking out. They have some quality little impulse buy books at the register. I also really enjoyed browsing their selection of postcards and greeting cards, all very cool cards made by artists. I loved the Montreal postcard series by Brendan Birkett, I couldn't resist the Rue de Saint-Vallier trash postcard and I'll be looking him up to see more of his work. The font choice and the pink color, the composition of the photo itself makes for a good photo and it made me laugh.
My first impression of the store was surprise that this was a small store. I was expecting something bigger, maybe two floors, but this is a cozy little one room shop packed with lots of good stuff on the shelves (...and a discounted books bin too! Barely noticed it under a table on the floor by the door. I snagged a poetry book from there for $5.) Though I do wish they had merch for purchase - shirts, bags (beyond the free tote with $100 purchase), pins, that sort of thing. Stickers (branded, or otherwise just featuring artists whose work is in the store) would be great. I came in thinking that if I left with nothing else I would leave with some branded merch, but no merch surprisingly from what I could see (aside from that $100 purchase tote, which I certainly left with.)
The staff art wall stopped me in my tracks, so I would love to see more art by the staff in the store - and I think merch would be a cool way to do that, but also I'd be curious to see their actual work, the zines and comics by the people who made these lovely post-it drawings. My friend and I both enjoyed looking at their art wall and wanted more. Again, stickers would be great. If they sold stickers featuring staff art, such as this, I'd buy a stack of them - and it would be a low price point for them to produce and for the customer to purchase, perfect impulse buy type of item for near the register, and a versatile item that someone like me could bring home and stick wherever as a D+Q memento.
Oh, and after leaving today I found out via their Instagram that they have a store for children and young adults at 176 Rue Bernard Ouest. I had no idea, and wish there was signage or advertising somewhere in this D+Q location. They do have a small shelf of children's books here, but I'd love to see what they have at La Petite Librarie D+Q. That's next on my list of places to visit!
TLDR: if you're a comic book enthusiast (in which case you may well have already heard of Drawn & Quarterly Publishing) this is the place to be. For anyone, comics or no, looking for your next good read: you will find it here.