Considered a landmark and cultural institution in the region, it was one of the largest and most famous independent bookstores in Canada.
[2] As the business grew, Pollard eventually expanded further into book publishing, releasing an extensive catalogue of titles in English, French and First Nations languages.
[4] In addition to its physical store, the shop also maintained an extensive mail order business, as well as a search service for people interested in purchasing rare or out-of-print books,[3] and frequently travelled throughout Ontario to sell books at regional fairs and festivals.
[4] At its peak, the store had over 300,000 titles in stock[5] in a variety of locations, including the main building, on-site trailers and several warehouses.
[4] In her late 80s and keen to retire, Lois Pollard placed the store up for sale soon after Douglas' death,[8] but closed it in 2011 after failing to find a willing buyer.