Comments on: A few last words (I hope) about McNally-Robinson

By: John Manzo

John Manzo — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:01:53 +0000

Gina (or Gia?)- I’m glad I might having an influence and that other people aren’t just accepting McNally’s narrative.

Only bars and clubs? Been to a performance at the Jack lately? Eaten at Teatro?

By: Gina

Gina — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:39:29 +0000

This is getting insulting.
Do you have some kind of inside information? How exactly do you know what their finances are? How can you know how well the Calgary store is doing? Are you there every day, every hour? Don’t you think the staff, who are there 5 or more days a week, would have left in droves if they thought the McNallys were wrong in what they did? Have you even spoken to a staff member? You insult them instead by calling their managers and them liars. They’re the ones who are there all the time and know exactly how busy it is. Someone there once a week will just see that one hour. They’re having now to deal with people who think they know the whole story and complain and harrass the staff with what the McNally’s should have done, and how they feel betrayed. I’ve seen it.
As for the large number of workers in the downtown, don’t you think that maybe the mall would stay open later to accomadate them? Instead the mall is open late only on Thursdays and Fridays, and even then it’s empty in there. The only businesses packed are the bars and clubs. Winners is even rumoured to be closing because of the same issues, staffing and just not generating enough business.
And the staying open late issue? They were trying to be part of the downtown revitalization, to have music and book launches at night to entire more people downtown. Yes, they did have some signings during the day, but they saved their big ones for the night, when people are off work and would hopefully come.
Remember Sandpiper Books? Largest independant bookstore in Calgary, larger than McNally’s. They closed down too, and they didn’t even have the boom to blame. This does not look good for Calgary if 2 independants close down.
The McNallys did say they may come back in a few years. But with the way people are insulting them, I can’t even imagine how many angry emails, calls, and people the McNallys and the staff must have to deal with, but it’s probably souring their view of Calgary.
You clearly will not change your mind. That’s okay, I won’t either. We’ll all have to just shop at Chapters and Amazon now, since everyone was probably doing that before.

By: Kathleen Higgins

Kathleen Higgins — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:33:03 +0000

Well said. When I first heard about M-R closing I was very sad. They have been a favourite haunt of both my husband and I for years. He buys thousands of dollars of technical books a year and I buy more contemporary fiction and a LOT of cookbooks. I will miss them and do not like the alternate retail offerings in Calgary. But then I read the article in the Herald and thought the same thing you did - Hey you jerks! You sold the building for a fortune and now I am supposed to feel sorry for you? I don’t think so. I was surprised that they were opening in NY but didn’t know the story behind the story. Disgusting. I feel duped. M-R is not the company or the brand that I thought they were and I feel betrayed.

By: Andrew (IntotheWest)

Andrew (IntotheWest) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:17:30 +0000

Exactly. I’m glad someone took the time to write what you did…I just can’t believe no other media sources questioned them about the “high cost” when they owned the place. You mention the expanding downtown, and growing daytime population (and residents) in the core, and the other thing I find surprising with their blaming the “dead after-6pm” downtown is they let this go on for what, 6 years? That alone seems suspicious.

It was a beautiful store, fantastic location, and I even liked the little restaurant (my wife took her team there often for lunch meetings)…bye, bye M-R, I’m sure something else will fill the space nicely.

By: Andrew (IntotheWest)

Andrew (IntotheWest) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:15:48 +0000

Exactly. I’m glad someone took the time to right what you did…I just can’t believe no other media sources questioned them about the “high cost” when they owned the place. You mention the expanding downtown, and growing daytime population (and residents) in the core, and the other thing I find surprising with their blaming the “dead after-6pm” downtown is they let this go on for what, 6 years? That alone seems suspicious.