Spartacus Books
A volunteer-run, collectively managed radical bookstore and community resource centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Spartacus Books is a non-profit, volunteer-run and collectively managed bookstore and resource centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1973, it began at Simon Fraser University as the Spartacus Socialist Education Society, established by Roger Perkins, who worked at the university bookstore. Its original purpose was to make political, cultural and educational materials available that were difficult to obtain through conventional booksellers. Although it retained a strong association with radical, socialist and anarchist publishing, the store developed into a meeting place for people with varied political perspectives who shared an interest in independent education, social movements and alternative culture. The store has operated as one of North America's longest-running collectively run bookstores. Its inventory combines new and used books with a broad range of printed and cultural materials, including zines, comics, magazines, CDs, videos, T-shirts, patches, pins, posters and cards. Subject areas associated with the store include anarchism, women's studies, LGBTQ literature, poetry, Indigenous studies and Indigenous literature, activist organizing, socialist theory, history, ecology, local writing and art, zines and chapbooks. It has also offered non-specialized used books and DVD rentals. Spartacus's institutional identity is closely tied to its collective structure. The bookstore uses horizontal, consensus-oriented decision-making rather than a conventional owner-manager model. Prospective volunteers apply, participate in an interview and training process, and generally become collective members after a period of volunteering. The organization follows an anti-capitalist, not-for-profit model and supplements sales revenue with donations and memberships. For decades the bookstore operated at 311 West Hastings Street in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. A major fire began in a dumpster behind the store on April 25, 2004, destroyed the building and inventory, and also eliminated the store journals that documented much of its collective history. The fire's cause was not definitively established in the available account. Supporters, volunteers and donors helped rebuild the operation, including through contributions of money, used books and fixtures from the closing Granville Book Company. A replacement location at 319 West Hastings Street began receiving public activity in late 2005 and reopened for regular business on February 12, 2006. Rising Vancouver real-estate costs subsequently produced further relocation pressures. A threatened 2013 displacement, described publicly as a renoviction, was cancelled after media attention, but the lease was not renewed beyond July 2014. Spartacus moved in June 2014 to 3378 Findlay Street near Trout Lake and the south end of Commercial Drive. After that building was sold and the store faced another insecure lease, volunteers organized a search and fundraising campaign for a new premises. The bookstore moved to 1983 Commercial Drive in February 2022. Beyond retail, Spartacus functions as a community third place and event venue. Its space has hosted book launches, film nights, fundraisers, meetings and activities connected with alternative and activist organizations. The store has been associated with groups and initiatives including Vancouver Indymedia, cooperative housing organizers, the Vancouver Esperanto group, the Under the Volcano Festival, local Industrial Workers of the World activity, anarchist free-school initiatives and protest networks. Public resources have included a lending library for books and zines, a seed library, free tea and coffee, naloxone training, a children's area, a free-store section, free-software computers and public Wi-Fi. This combination of bookselling, mutual aid, political education and community organizing distinguishes Spartacus Books from a conventional commercial bookstore.
History
Spartacus Books was founded in 1973 at Simon Fraser University under the name Spartacus Socialist Education Society. Roger Perkins, who worked at the SFU bookstore, was an early founder. The project emerged from a desire to distribute books and educational materials that were politically radical, socially critical or otherwise difficult to obtain through mainstream channels. Its first setting was shared with a pool hall operated by the American Exiles Association, a community associated with American military deserters and war resisters. Over time, Spartacus became more than a specialist bookseller. It developed a collectively managed structure and attracted participants from different political tendencies, while maintaining a common commitment to independent publishing, political education and community use. The store eventually moved to 311 West Hastings Street, where it remained for approximately three decades. Its collection expanded from socialist and radical texts to include anarchism, women's studies, LGBTQ literature, poetry, Indigenous studies, activist organizing, ecology, history, local writing, zines and chapbooks. New and used books were sold alongside magazines, comics, recordings, videos, clothing, patches, posters and other cultural materials. The West Hastings period ended abruptly on April 25, 2004, when a fire began in a dumpster behind the store at approximately 6 a.m. The building burned extensively, destroying the bookstore's inventory and much of its physical history. Spartacus's collective had relied on handwritten store journals, in which volunteers recorded events and operational knowledge; these journals were also lost. An investigation took place, but the available historical account does not establish a conclusive cause for the fire. Reconstruction depended on a large volunteer effort and donations from supporters. Between the fire and the reopening, the collective raised funds and gathered books, equipment and fixtures. Assistance from the closing Granville Book Company helped provide used books and shelving. A new space at 319 West Hastings Street hosted a book launch in November 2005, even though it initially lacked basic services such as heat and electricity. By February 12, 2006, the bookstore had reopened for business and had rebuilt a volunteer roster of more than 60 people. The store later faced the real-estate pressures affecting many independent and community organizations in Vancouver. After new landlords acquired its building in late 2012, Spartacus was told to leave by July 31, 2013. The notice was withdrawn after media coverage and public attention surrounding the proposed renoviction. The landlord subsequently indicated that the lease, which ran through July 2014, would not be renewed. At the end of June 2014, Spartacus moved to 3378 Findlay Street, near Trout Lake and the southern end of Commercial Drive. The Findlay Street location served for nearly a decade but remained vulnerable to changes in property ownership. Volunteers learned in 2020 that the building had been sold, and the collective began searching for another premises. In December 2021, it announced a relocation fundraiser. The move was completed in February 2022, when Spartacus opened at 1983 Commercial Drive, north of the intersection with East Fourth Avenue. Throughout these changes, the bookstore retained its collective and not-for-profit orientation. Its decision-making is described as horizontal and consensus-based. Members of the public can apply to volunteer, complete an interview and training process, and ordinarily become collective members after approximately two months of volunteering. Donations and memberships help cover expenses alongside book and merchandise sales. Spartacus also operates as a community space. Events and activities have included book releases, film nights, fundraisers, meetings and gatherings connected with local activist and cultural networks. Groups associated with the space have included Vancouver Indymedia, cooperative-housing organizers, the Vancouver Esperanto group, the Under the Volcano Festival, anarchist free-school initiatives, protest organizers connected with G8 and G20 mobilizations, and the local Industrial Workers of the World chapter. Public-facing resources have included book and zine lending, a seed library, free refreshments, naloxone training, a children's area, a free-store section, computers using free software and public Wi-Fi. These services and activities have made the bookstore a continuing hub for alternative culture and political education in Vancouver.
- 2022
Move to Commercial Drive
[1]Spartacus relocates to 1983 Commercial Drive after the sale of its previous building and a community fundraising effort.
- 2014
Move to Findlay Street
[1]The bookstore leaves the Downtown Eastside and relocates to 3378 Findlay Street near Trout Lake.
- 2013
Renoviction notice cancelled
[1]A threatened displacement is cancelled following media attention, although the store later loses the prospect of lease renewal.
- 2006
Reopening after reconstruction
[1]Spartacus resumes regular business at 319 West Hastings Street after extensive fundraising and volunteer rebuilding.
- 2004
West Hastings Street premises destroyed by fire
[1]A fire destroys the building, inventory and the collective's historical store journals.
- 1973
Foundation at Simon Fraser University
[1]The project begins at Simon Fraser University as the Spartacus Socialist Education Society, associated with Roger Perkins.
Products and positioning
An independent, anti-capitalist and community-oriented bookstore specializing in radical literature, social-movement resources, independent publishing and alternative culture.
Books
Radical and social-justice books
The store's core selection covers anarchism, socialism, activist organizing, ecology, history and related political theory. It serves readers seeking critical and movement-oriented works that may be underrepresented in mainstream retail. The collection includes both new and used titles.
Books
Indigenous studies and Indigenous literature
Spartacus maintains subject areas devoted to Indigenous studies and Indigenous literature, forming part of its broader focus on social history, culture, politics and locally relevant educational resources.
Independent publishing
Zines and chapbooks
The bookstore carries zines and chapbooks, including work by local writers and artists. These low-cost and independently produced publications support grassroots expression, small-scale publishing and alternative cultural networks.
Retail merchandise
Books and cultural merchandise
In addition to books, Spartacus has sold comics, magazines, CDs, videos, clothing, patches, pins, posters and cards. The merchandise extends the store's role as a community-oriented cultural outlet rather than a conventional book retailer.
Community resources
Community resource services
The space has offered a book and zine lending library, seed library, free refreshments, naloxone training, a children's area, a free-store section, free-software computers and Wi-Fi. These resources complement the retail operation and support public education and mutual aid.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Commercial Drive relocation fundraiser
Vancouver · Canada
The bookstore appealed to supporters for help with relocation costs after the Findlay Street building was sold and the existing lease became uncertain.
Outcome. Spartacus moved to 1983 Commercial Drive in February 2022.
- 2004Post-fire rebuilding campaign
Vancouver · Canada
Volunteers and supporters raised funds and collected books, shelving and other materials after the fire destroyed the original premises and inventory.
Outcome. The collective established a replacement location and reopened for regular business in February 2006.
Brand decisions
2022
Relocation to Commercial DriveStrategyBackground
The Findlay Street building was sold, creating further lease insecurity and prompting a search for a new storefront.
Action taken
Following a community fundraising effort, the collective moved the bookstore to 1983 Commercial Drive.
Aftermath
The move preserved the bookstore's Vancouver operations and its role as a community and cultural space.
2014
Relocation from West Hastings Street to Findlay StreetStrategyBackground
The landlord did not renew the lease at the long-standing West Hastings Street premises amid rising Vancouver property costs.
Action taken
Spartacus moved to 3378 Findlay Street near Trout Lake and Commercial Drive.
Aftermath
The bookstore continued operating outside the Downtown Eastside until another relocation in 2022.
2006
Rebuild as a volunteer collectiveStrategyBackground
The 2004 fire eliminated the store's inventory and physical records, requiring the organization to reconstruct its operations with community support.
Action taken
The collective pursued donations, fundraising and volunteer rebuilding rather than abandoning the bookstore or converting it into a conventional commercial retailer.
Aftermath
The store reopened in February 2006 with a rebuilt volunteer base and continued its non-profit, collectively managed model.
Recent events
- 2022
Spartacus Books moves to 1983 Commercial Drive[1]
Other
After almost a decade on Findlay Street, the bookstore relocated to Commercial Drive.
- 2021
Fundraising supports a move to Commercial Drive[1]
Campaign · Other
The collective announced a fundraising effort to cover relocation costs after the Findlay Street building was sold and the store's lease situation became uncertain.
- 2014
Bookstore relocates to Findlay Street[1]
Other
Spartacus moved from the Downtown Eastside to a storefront near Trout Lake and Commercial Drive.
- 2013
Renoviction threat is withdrawn[1]
Other
A landlord's demand that Spartacus vacate its premises was cancelled after public and media attention, although the lease was later not renewed.
- 2006
Spartacus Books reopens after rebuilding[1]
Other
Following donations, volunteer work and fundraising, the bookstore resumed regular operations at a new West Hastings Street location.
- 2004
Fire destroys Spartacus Books' long-standing premises[1]
Other
A fire that began behind the bookstore destroyed the building, the store's inventory and historical collective journals.
Sources2 sources
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