Barbara Jo's Is Cooking

Know what I don't get? I don't get how really specialized little bookstores survive. As much as I love them, I don't know how they manage to stay in business when faced with the Chapters and Borders and Indigo boom. At least, I don't know how they manage it EXCEPT in the case of Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks, which is just so lovely, it can't help but thrive.

Orignally located in Yaletown, then on Granville Island, a 2nd Barbara Jo's recently opened up on W. 2nd Ave.

It. Is. Charming.

What a nice shop! Really. I don't even care much for cook books and I loved it. The lighting is great, the books are displayed on tables as well as shelves and there's a full display kitchen along the back of the shop for events and demonstrations. It felt more like being in someone's house than like being in a store.

The staff were amazing. Chatty and funny, like old friends of the family. And they were truly knowledgeable about their stock, which is a nice change from many bookstores. I was picking up a hard to find slow-cooker recipe book for a friend and even though I'd forgotten the title, they knew what I was talking about right away and quickly found it for me. I had the feeling that if I were to bring them a specific recipe problem or tale about my cooking woes they would be just as eager to help and to share anecdotes of their own. That's how nice it was.

Anyway, if you're even remotely interested in things of a culinary nature, you should go. It's a nice lazy weekened sort of thing to do. Who doesn't like those?

Location 1
Granville Island Net Loft
Open Daily, 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Location 2
1740 W. 2nd Ave.
Open Monday to Saturday, 9:30am - 5:30pm
Closed Sunday