Ben McNally Books originally opened in September 2007. Many Toronto bibliophiles know Ben from his long time as the manager of Nicholas Hoare Books .

McNally's doesn't really specialize in any one genre, but if there's a focus on a particular type of book, it'd be on what Ben jokingly calls "the good ones," those nice looking hardcovers that people tend to want to keep around for the long haul, whether it be history, biography or fiction (genres in which he's well stocked).

As the bookseller for the Harbourfront Reading Series, he also has quite a number of signed editions from some of the authors who've participated over the years. 

For those who don't already have a title in mind, who'd like some hands-on guidance or recommendations, Ben is happy to help. It's the interactive experience that independent bookstores build their reputation on.

While this may seem obvious, it's clear that Ben takes pride in helping people with their book selections, noting, for instance, how many regular customers he has and how often he consults with people participating in book clubs.