Pandemonium

Wonderful selection of books at shockingly reasonable prices.

Records, books, and everything else niche. If you’re so hip it hurts everyone around you, you might enjoy stopping in here. The guys who work here know their stuff too. But think of it as a basement with a few Ikea shelves at your very cool uncle’s house. That’s how it is laid out.
But it’s not cheap. They seem to be aware of what they have. Making a profit is clearly more important than moving product here.

I visited Pandemonium for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed myself. I loved how spacious the store was. I felt really comfortable browsing through their selection and didn’t feel overwhelmed by overstocked shelves. It’s well curated and the staff is quite friendly. Definitely recommend.

Well what can I say, I live downtown but regularly make trips to the Junction solely to visit this amazing store. Tons of vinyl, CDs, and also an amazing used book store. Last trip I noticed the $ 2 jazz records… So I will have to come back in a few weeks and go through those

I don’t get up to the Junction often – when I do it is probably for Doors Open or Contact or an organized group walk. When I do get up here, I always remember to drop in this shop. Over the summer, it was a great relief, after seeing the old location empty, to find that they simply moved and expanded. Yay!
Prior to this visit, at the old location, I might or might not have found anything. But it was during this recent visit, to the new location, that I found a Gil Evans CD that I wanted (Out of the Cool). There were plenty of other used jazz to take away if my budget allowed it.
A quick peek at the jazz vinyl made me reconsider a record player and phono stage – they have a bit of it.
The non jazz CDs were plenty based on a very quick look.
Their book selection seemed good.
Prices were good – but I base this off of limited buying experience from here.
When asking about the CD, I got a competent, friendly answer.
If you live near the Junction, you are lucky to have this shop nearby. I certain won’t resist a stop inside anytime I’m in that area. Recommended!

The best thing I can say about Pandemonium is that I offer this review somewhat reluctantly, because I don’t want to blow up my used book spot.
The store offers a great selection, including remaindered books. I’m particularly enamoured of the philosophy section which puts most used book stores to shame.
The staff are very friendly and I’ve gotten some great recommendations.
Pandemonium is the one store in the Junction that I stop in at every single week.

Pandemonium is part of what makes The Junction funky and cool. They have a great selection of vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs, as well as a really well-​organized book section.
If you are looking for books, particularly works of classic and contemporary literature that are in good shape, this is the place for you. The staff knows their stuff and can tell you right away if they have something available. Well worth the visit!

The staff are SO informed. Every time I’ve been there they were able to help me find what I want right away. If they didn’t have it they said so immediately and made alternative suggestions, but without being pushy or following me around. I’m a middle-​aged English major, my son is into edgy music, daughter a fantasy fiction fan, and my brother has an encyclopedic knowledge of music. ALL of us found something.
Even better now that they’ve moved a block west to a cleaner and bigger space.

My girlfriend and I discovered this place a for the first time this weekend and we are so glad we did. The layout is nice, music is organized and doesn’t leave you with an overwhelming feeling when browsing. The owner, Neill, is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, he was extremely knowledgeable and very sincere in his approach. With his recommendations, we left with a couple of records and will be returning to purchase plenty more.

I chanced across this place the first time I visited the Junction, and now I make sure I stop in every time I’m in the neighbourhood.
Given the semi-​limited space is shared with records, CDs, and DVDs, the selection of used books is much more filtered and well-​organized than your average used bookstore. If you’re looking for classic and contemporary literature for good prices, and without having to sift through mounds of junk books, this is THE place to go.
Vinyl and CD selection is pretty diverse and generally well-​priced, with quite a few gems to be found. DVD selection is small and oddly expensive ($ 10+ for used, generic DVDs seems odd in the year 2011), but I doubt too many people come for the DVDs anyway.
The whole place has a pleasantly quaint feel to it, and the owner is super friendly; this is probably one of my favourite places to visit in the Junction.

This was my first time in the Junction, and I really liked this eclectic little used book/​used LP/​CD shop. The prices were good, fair, and the selection was interesting, especially in the used LP department. I’d happily stop in again next time I’m in the area.
And props to the friendly owner, who was playing Berg’s Kammerkonzert over the store’s speakers. I mean, who does that?

I try to make a point of stopping in here whenever I’m in the Junction. As other reviewers have said, the proprietor is very friendly and knowledgeable, and the store seems to have a good churn of vinyl. I’ve found a few cool records here at great prices– ambient Brian Eno stuff for example– that gets snatched up PDQ in record stores on Queen W. Great little shop.

what a great store. the guy is so friendly and knowledgeable. he even helped me look through the rack of new arrivals for a particular album. the prices on the records and the selection is fantastic. i love the feel in there, it’s packed and a little edgy. it’s something different. check it out.

Cute and eclectic bookshop and used vinyl/​CD shop in The Junction and one of the west end’s best kept secrets when it comes to quality vinyl and super obscure cassettes (yep, cassettes!). Because there isn’t a whole lot of competition (ie: none) in the area for used music, you can usually snag some great finds before anyone else does if you visit with any sort of regularity.
Dundas Street West has a triad of used bookstores that are within a block of one another (The Book Exchange, Declan Books and Pandemonium) and each has its quirks and specialties. Pandemonium happens to have a lot of old cinema and psychology books as well as a decent selection of novels that are all very well organized. The best stuff is up at the front desk in the new arrivals piles but if you ask the knowledgeable owners if they have come across a particular book on the shelves. Judging purely from what I’ve eavesdropped, most of the customers are regulars.
CD prices are standard ($ 9 – 11 for used albums) and the selection is good. Don’t forget to take a good look through the dollar bin for some outrageous finds (I found good condition CDs by Mew, Cut Copy, Kent, Leaves and Sunny Day Real Estate for $ 1 each. ONE DOLLAR. The fact that they were discarded in the dollar bin was criminal.).