Royal Bank of Canada - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Posted by: 
The A-Team
N 48° 25.512 W 123° 22.074
10U E 472782 N 5363626
Considered one of the best bookstores in the world, Munro's Books is located in a former Royal Bank of Canada building at 1108 Government Street Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Waymark Code: WMJTZ9
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 12/31/2013
Views: 9
The building was designed for the Royal Bank of Canada in 1909 by Thomas Hooper, the architect of many of B.C.'s finest commercial and public buildings. It's described by the
Hallmark Heritage Society:
This Edwardian Classical bank building combines a Roman entrance-arch with Tuscan columns and Renaissance pilasters in a glorious interpretation of the dignity of the Edwardian bank. Built with two storeys, the basement contained a shooting gallery where bank employees could be prepared to cope with a hold-up. The second storey was removed in the 1980s and the main features of the original banking hall obscured.
Book seller Jim Munro purchased the bank in 1984 and, within seven months, had restored the former banking hall for use as a bookstore. During the process, he uncovered original plaster that had been hidden in the 1980s and uncovered other fine features. The book store continues in the same location today.
Munro's Books celebrated their 50th anniversary in September 2013. After previously operating in two other locations, they moved into this building on Government Street in 1984. The building has received two heritage awards since the Munros' restoration.
Munro's Books has been described as "the most magnificent bookstore in Canada, possibly in North America", and in 2013 made a list of "16 bookstores you have to see before you die".