Princess Street · Kingston, Ontario
Stone
Mill Books
An independent for readers who still browse the shelves.
New and used, local history and poetry, evening readings — and someone at the desk who will help you find the next book.
Hours & location
We’re open most days on Princess Street. Thursday evenings run late for readings; holiday Mondays we usually stay closed.
| Monday – Wednesday | 10:00am – 6:00pm |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 10:00am – 8:00pm · readings at 7 |
| Friday – Saturday | 10:00am – 6:00pm |
| Sunday | 12:00pm – 5:00pm |
| Holiday Mondays | Closed |
On Princess, mid-block downtown
287 Princess Street
Kingston, Ontario
Between Bagot and Wellington. Metered street parking on Princess; the municipal garage on Brock is a short walk.
Coming from the 401? Take Division Street south into downtown, then west on Princess. From the waterfront, walk up from Ontario Street — about five minutes.
Get directions detailsWhat we shelve
Collections the way the shop is organized when you walk in — not a product grid. Ask at the desk if a title isn’t on the shelf.
New releases
Front tables and recent fiction, essays, and nonfiction. We order what we can stand behind — not everything that ships.
NewUsed & remaindered
A full wall of secondhand, priced to move. Trade-ins by appointment when we have shelf room.
UsedLocal history
Kingston, the Limestone City, and the islands — maps, memoirs, and out-of-print regional titles when we find them.
LocalPoetry
A quiet bay near the back. Small presses, Canadian poets, and the chapbooks that don’t survive a big-box algorithm.
PoetryChildren’s
Picture books through young adult. A low shelf you can sit beside. We don’t stock toy tie-ins.
KidsStaff picks
Handwritten notes on the spines. Rotates every few weeks. Ask who wrote the card — they’ll talk your ear off.
StaffEvening readings on Princess
Most Thursdays at seven. Free to attend; books for sale after. Arrive a little early if you want a chair — standing room fills fast for local authors.
On the calendar
Dates below are sample events for this demo. A real shop would swap them for the live month.
- Thu Oct 16 · 7pm — Mara Ellison reads from Harbour Light
- Thu Oct 23 · 7pm — Open mic for Kingston writers (sign up at the desk)
- Thu Oct 30 · 7pm — Local history night: limestone & the Rideau
- Cash and Interac at the table · no tickets required
Find a book
No fake catalogue. Call or email with a title, author, or ISBN — we’ll check the shelves and special-order if we can.
Tell us what you need
Title, author, ISBN, or even a half-remembered cover. Mid-afternoon phone calls are easiest to answer between customers.
We check the shelves
You’ll get a call or email back — in stock, on order, or a used copy if one turns up. Holds keep for five days.
Pick up on Princess
Name on the hold shelf behind the desk. If you need shipping within Ontario, ask — we pack a few each week.
Questions we get most
Do you take special orders?
Yes — new titles from Canadian distributors, usually within one to two weeks. We’ll confirm price and ETA before ordering. Used or out-of-print searches are slower and not guaranteed.
Can you hold a book for me?
Holds stay on the shelf for five days. Call or email with your name. After that it goes back to the floor — no deposit required.
Do you sell gift cards?
Paper gift cards from the desk in any amount. They don’t expire. We don’t do plastic cards or digital codes.
Is the shop accessible?
Street-level entrance on Princess; one low step at the threshold. Aisles are narrow in the used section. If you need help reaching a high shelf, ask — we’ll pull it down.
Do you buy used books?
Selectively, by appointment when we have room. Bring a short list first, or email photos. We don’t take textbooks, encyclopedias, or water-damaged stock.
Contact
Phone for same-day holds and shelf checks. Email for special orders and reading-night questions.
Stone Mill Books
Kingston, ON K7L 1B0