Russell Books first started in Montreal in 1962. It began as a small 300 square foot, one aisle, used bookstore and gradually grew into the biggest used, antiquarian and remainder bookstore in Montreal.
In 1991 Reg Russell, founder of Russell Books, helped open a Victoria branch with his daughter Diana and her husband Ron DePol at 734 Fort Street, where it is today. Ron and Diana are now the owners of Russell Books Ltd. while their daughter Andrea, together with her husband Jordan, manage the company.