"What? They're MOVING?"

In just the few minutes I spent outside This Ain't The Rosedale Library, snapping the above photo, more than a dozen people walked by and stopped to exclaim over the sign. Yes, after the 22 years they've spent on Church Street, in the heart of The Village, the bookstore will be closing its doors as of May 31.

Keep reading for a bit about the current location, why they're leaving, and the plans for a new home (and focus) in Kensington Market.

On Sunday afternoon, the tiny bookstore is packed. Partly it's the closing sale (30% off all hardcovers, and 50% off all remaindered books), but mostly it's just the surprise. Business partner Dan Bazuin greets customer after customer. "Yes, it's true," I hear him say, again and again. "May 31."

According to their website, This Ain't has been in business for 29 years now, and they've been at their 483 Church street location for 22 of those. Although they're a general interest bookstore, they've become known for their small press/independent fiction, as well as their counterculture non-fiction, and were even named one of the world's ten best bookstores by The Guardian. Bazuin says the decision to close now was mostly financial -- an upcoming rent increase and not quite enough sales to cover it.

But fans of the bookstore need not get too distressed. A new, smaller location will open up at 86 Nassau Street, in Kensington Market. It'll still have the same name, but expect it to have a slightly different focus. Dan Bazuin will be getting out of the business entirely, and the new shop will be run by current partner Charles Huisken and his son. It will have an increased focus on rare books, and they hope to have a bigger web presence as well. The new store will open on May 1.

Bazuin also plans to maintain the gallery space above the current location. In the past it's been used for art shows, book launches, readings, and other events, and Bazuin hopes to keep that going, at least for the time being.