Black Bond Books is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend (Oct. 25 to 27) at all its stores including Semiahmoo Shopping Centre location and the South Surrey Warehouse at 15562 24 Ave.
"We want to thank our customers – we have such a loyal customer base," said owner-manager Cathy Jesson, whose mother, Madeleine Neill founded the first Black Bond Books in Brandon, Man., in 1963.
Transplanted to White Rock in the late 1970s, the chain has grown to 11 outlets in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Although Neill retired in 1997, she still takes a keen interest in the business, which is now co-owned and managed by daughter Cathy Jesson, with granddaughter Caitlin Jesson managing the flagship Book Warehouse location in Vancouver acquired last year.
Among upcoming celebration events for the chain, astronaut Chris Hadfield will make a personal appearance Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at Black Bond's Central City store, promoting his new book An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth.
"He's visiting only one book location in the Lower Mainland and that's ours," Jesson said.