Calgary Openings, Closings, and Developments

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Better hope everybody else is if you’re shopping at Zara.

Zara is fantastic if you need a euro-tailored suit that doesn't look like its from Edmonton (Moores) and is a tier above bargain bin price (H&M).

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

With the Stonyslope Brewery opening last year, that little strip mall is having a nice little revival. Too bad the pool hall isn’t still around.

Cool story...one of my former Companies that I worked for operated out the offices of that former Pool Hall.

I lived in Haysboro for a couple years.

[dubc80]

A real nice Analog Coffee just opened in Bankers Hall.
It's on the 2nd floor where Starbucks and a bunch of little shops used to be.

It's got quite a bit of seating and had a pretty long lineup when I walked by.

Should be a good spot for a casual meeting compared to sitting in the food court.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Locke

Cool story...one of my former Companies that I worked for operated out the offices of that former Pool Hall.

I lived in Haysboro for a couple years.

My buddies and I want the Haysboro poll hall almost daily in grade 11 and 12 to play snooker on the full-sized tables. We got pretty decent. Not as good as the group of middle-aged guys who had been playing at the back table every day for years. But decent.

There was an old guy in his late 70s who had been going to the Haysboro pool hall every day for more than 30 years. The legendary fixture of the place. He was written up in the Herald, featured in a fluff piece by CBC, etc. At his age he just sat and watched the regulars at the back table.

One day, after we’d been playing there for over a year, he did something unprecedented - he walked over from his usual spot to our table to watch us play snooker. To see if these kids who played five times a week were any good.

We were pretty good. But my buddy and I had just gotten baked off our heads in the parking lot. And when the old legend sat down to watch as we racked the table, we totally choked. Missed shot after shot. Not saying a word to each other, just smoking, missing shots, and trying to pretend the old guy wasn’t watching. After about 20 minutes of this he got up and left. It was humiliating.

[Calgary14]

Noticed the Banana Republic in Southcenter Mall closed. Might have been a while ago as I don't go there often. I'd imagine they really struggled during covid, and after with most office staff working from home. There is a calendar store in its place there now

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

My buddies and I want the Haysboro poll hall almost daily in grade 11 and 12 to play snooker on the full-sized tables. We got pretty decent. Not as good as the group of middle-aged guys who had been playing at the back table every day for years. But decent.

There was an old guy in his late 70s who had been going to the Haysboro pool hall every day for more than 30 years. The legendary fixture of the place. He was written up in the Herald, featured in a fluff piece by CBC, etc. At his age he just sat and watched the regulars at the back table.

One day, after we’d been playing there for over a year, he did something unprecedented - he walked over from his usual spot to our table to watch us play snooker. To see if these kids who played five times a week were any good.

We were pretty good. But my buddy and I had just gotten baked off our heads in the parking lot. And when the old legend sat down to watch as we racked the table, we totally choked. Missed shot after shot. Not saying a word to each other, just smoking, missing shots, and trying to pretend the old guy wasn’t watching. After about 20 minutes of this he got up and left. It was humiliating.

They had a decent arcade in the back as well- with a fooseball table. Played lots of WWF wrestling and Mortal Combat there, some pool as well

[Misterpants]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Noticed the Banana Republic in Southcenter Mall closed. Might have been a while ago as I don't go there often. I'd imagine they really struggled during covid, and after with most office staff working from home. There is a calendar store in its place there now

K, a calendar store has to be a front for something or a money laundering scheme, no? Who TF buys a paper calendar.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

My buddies and I want the Haysboro poll hall almost daily in grade 11 and 12 to play snooker on the full-sized tables. We got pretty decent. Not as good as the group of middle-aged guys who had been playing at the back table every day for years. But decent.

There was an old guy in his late 70s who had been going to the Haysboro pool hall every day for more than 30 years. The legendary fixture of the place. He was written up in the Herald, featured in a fluff piece by CBC, etc. At his age he just sat and watched the regulars at the back table.

One day, after we’d been playing there for over a year, he did something unprecedented - he walked over from his usual spot to our table to watch us play snooker. To see if these kids who played five times a week were any good.

We were pretty good. But my buddy and I had just gotten baked off our heads in the parking lot. And when the old legend sat down to watch as we racked the table, we totally choked. Missed shot after shot. Not saying a word to each other, just smoking, missing shots, and trying to pretend the old guy wasn’t watching. After about 20 minutes of this he got up and left. It was humiliating.

Yeah, a kid I played soccer with was apparently related to the owners of that Pool Hall but I cant say that I ever went there. I did work there for several years though...not the pool hall, the offices they turned it into.

I worked in the 'Boro for a few years, lived there for a few years (Hays Farm Apartments FTW!).

One funny story...I was living in the Hays Farm Apartments and working at that office and one of the businesses in that Mall was a Driver's Training School, so in the months during the lead-up to the Province moving to the Graduated Driver's License that Mall parking lot was like a goddamned War Zone.

For a few years I was going to the Masons' annual Robbie Burns' Day dinner because the Scottish Butcher shop right next door made all of their Haggis and got a few invites and always gave me one, plus some 'extras.'

Oh the 'Boro...what a neighbourhood. I also helped their Community Association establish their Seniors' Assistance Snow Shoveling program...but that was eons ago. I mean...I helped organize some construction workers who were working on the Glenmore Underpass at the time help seniors clear their sidewalks during their off-time in the winter...I mean ages ago.

Then again, you were playing in that pool hall as a teenager so that must have been back in Fred Flintstone's time...did you ride a Brontosaurus there?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Misterpants

K, a calendar store has to be a front for something or a money laundering scheme, no? Who TF buys a paper calendar.

Not to mention...in this day and age of high oil prices and carbon taxes and convoys and whatnot can a dedicated 'Calendar Store' pay rent?

Let alone any of their other costs, much less make a profit?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Misterpants

K, a calendar store has to be a front for something or a money laundering scheme, no? Who TF buys a paper calendar.

Oh. Also...my mom.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Misterpants

K, a calendar store has to be a front for something or a money laundering scheme, no? Who TF buys a paper calendar.

Old people. My parents are quite technically proficient for their age but they still put up calendars even though they always have a phone or iPad on hand. It's what they're comfortable with.

[Sr. Mints]

Rona (former Totem) on Edmonton Trail NE appears to be closing.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Rona (former Totem) on Edmonton Trail NE appears to be closing.

Goodbye free popcorn and childhood hardware store. It was a quaint location that was still sized for the 80s.

[photon]

Ah that sucks, was nice to have that there so could pick up something quick coming from Chestermere.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by aaronck

They had a decent arcade in the back as well- with a fooseball table. Played lots of WWF wrestling and Mortal Combat there, some pool as well

They had Punch-out and Gauntlet in my day. And a deluxe, super old-school tabletop hockey.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Rona (former Totem) on Edmonton Trail NE appears to be closing.

Noooooooooo!

I worked there during school, and it was one of the best jobs I ever had. They'd just built the Home Depot up in Country Hills, so it was a lot quieter. Alberta Ice would leave the clean out from their trucks right next door (a giant snow pile) so we'd have snowball fights on 30 degree days.

I still remember when they got the whole yard repaved, and I dumped the clutch on the forklift a little too fast in the corner where the light coloured walls reflected all their light on the asphalt. Tore the 2 day old asphalt right up. Oops. Guess you shouldn't let kids with no license drive forklifts

Going there is great because it's so small to get end to end. Way better lumber than HD as well, and 100x easier to load up.

I miss Chesney's Home Hardware as well. Too bad the small format can't appear to survive anymore.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by photon

Ah that sucks, was nice to have that there so could pick up something quick coming from Chestermere.

You are thinking of the one in the hood on 52 St SE. I think the one mentioned here is close to McKnight Blvd. Unless I misread?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Rona (former Totem) on Edmonton Trail NE appears to be closing.

Oh mother####er. So close when I need ####, even if only 30% of the time they actually had what I needed in stock. That sucks.

[photon]

Originally Posted by greyshep

You are thinking of the one in the hood on 52 St SE. I think the one mentioned here is close to McKnight Blvd. Unless I misread?

Lol you're right, I have no idea how I misread that it's not even close.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Misterpants

K, a calendar store has to be a front for something or a money laundering scheme, no? Who TF buys a paper calendar.

Anyone who draws the name of a co-worker they don't know very well in the company Secret Santa.