I work on Queen West. I pass the Silver Snail everyday on my way for lunch and I’ve been inside a dozen times. Sometimes just browsing, other times with a mission to find something. My first few weeks of work it was my refuge. I would go browse for my hour lunch period in an attempt to get comfortable with the area. It reminds me every day of the not so invisible kid inside me and represents youth and creativity. And it’s all inside a beautiful building – from a superhero stuccoed wall façade, creaky stairs to vintage tin ceilings. It’s a historic wonder that as of this May will mark 36 years of business. It’s always been on Queen Street, always on this block and in a few months it’ll be gone. Replaced with some cold corporate store front. Sometimes, though necessary, change is a truly sad thing.

Read Torontoist’s interview with George Zotti who owns the store here. Find out how the move is coming along and what the future holds all in a nicely edited and condensed interview.