Notions Unlimited Bookshop – Chelsea Beach Arcade{3}
Here stands our shining beacon of hope. A specialist bookshop in Bayside Melbourne crammed full of the good stuff, with fantasy, science-fiction, horror, manga, paranormal, art books, classics and young adult titles.
So, come and sit on the couch. Mind the Tardis…
And remember…
They’ll lose their appetite for those pesky bookshop critics who go around braying of doom and gloom and the end of bookshops. And they make a fine Zombie-lunch.
Chuck as General of the Zombie Army
Notions Unlimited is owned and operated by Chuck McKenzie, Horror author, bookseller, and reader.
Today was opening day and I headed down with Craig, Mel and Suz of Suz’s Space for some book shopping and coffee.
The shop is bright and comfortable, well laid-out and full of fun things to amuse you while you’re browsing. We spent a good hour book browsing and found many excuses to sit on the couch.
A deadly foe…
I of course had a difficult time trying to pick a book from such a marvellous selection, and having decided I wanted a book that was not part of a series and an author I hadn’t read before. I mainly browsed the fantasy and Science fiction shelves and there was a fantastic selection. There was two full shelves of Pratchett, a good deal of them with the original Josh Kirby covers for only $14.95. Some classic titles were scattered amongst the shelves, with a nice Brothers Grimm collection by Vintage Books with their excellent cover art, a huge paperback for only $12.95 (on my list) There is entire back catalogues of all the fantasy heavyweights and a great selection of SF Masterworks including a full shelf of Philip K. Dick. For collectors there was some nice deluxe editions, including a pair of cloth-bound H.G Wells Collections.
You will also find bookcases full of Manga and Graphic Novels, a massive selection of Paranormal Romance and Horror, an Australian Small Press display with a great range of local authors and a good selection of art books.
Now for the Spoils….
I finally decided on a Neil Gaiman, this one excellently illustrated by Dave McKean, and Craig chose an SF Masterworks of the Forever War. Suz selected something by someone called Whatshisname which I was told to photgraph upside-down. Most mysterious.
Mel selected some book for her quest to understand the pesky ghost that is currently haunting a part of the building she works at. I’m not sure it will help vanquish the Ghost, but Chuck kindly gave her a voodoo charm to aid her in the battle.
There will be a grand opening soon, keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for more details.
And remember, support your local bookshops lest you fall foul of the Zombies.
Notions Unlimited
Shop 9, Chelsea Beach Aracde
426 Nepean Hwy Chelsea VIC 3196
Tel: (03) 9773 1102
Mar 06, 2012 @ 11:06:24
There’s also good coffee and cake or sushi or other comestibles just across the arcade, so you can make an afternoon of it. Two op shops near by also for those who like some of their books a little dustier.
Mar 06, 2012 @ 11:07:23
It was just like old times to meet up inside a bookshop. I ended up driving through Parkdale and stopped at the op shop there.
I’m looking forward to the book by Whatsisname.
Mar 06, 2012 @ 11:16:24
I miss bookshops in shopping strips rather than shopping centres, I think we’ll enjoy many an afternoon in Chelsea. The sushi did look good too.