that place

[davemerrill]

THIS is the Kijiji ad for that place in Fonthill. Apparently it's only open until 1 on Saturdays.



Good thing a random Google search uncovers their business hours, because they sure weren't posted on the shop's door! It's just a little irritating, we went past that place twice, in fairly normal afternoon hours, and it was shuttered tight. And I'm going to be honest about this, there's no way we're going to make it to Fonthill by 1pm on a Saturday. We work late, that's just how it is. So I guess if we ever want to see what's in this place we have to take a Friday and try to beat the traffic. I guess the rent on that place must be pretty cheap if he only has to keep it open for 3 hours on Saturday.

You know me, I like digging through old junk and the remains of 20th century popular culture. I waste a lot of disposable income on that stuff. Or I would, except it seems like the entire market is geared towards people who are up at 6am, have already had breakfast and their second cup of coffee, and are ready to get out the door and get on with their day. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about, if you've ever run a yard sale you know they will be out there at the crack of dawn watching you set up.

I had a conversation with one fellow who sells primitives at these shows, and I asked him why they always shut down at 4pm (meaning, everybody starts packing up at 3). He said that the shows open the doors early, the dealers have been there even earlier setting up, and by the afternoon everybody's tired and ready to go home. And I respect that, but where is it written that all this stuff has to happen in the early morning hours? You're not on the farm any more. You're not milking cows or feeding chickens. The old signs and toy cars aren't going to spoil or get hungry. I'm telling you people, relax. Sleep in for once in your life. Open for business a little later, stay open a little later, you'll make more money. The beer store is open until 9, you've got plenty of time until Hockey Night In Canada. Relax.

WE went out last night to the Scott Pilgrim screening at the Bloor. The show was at 7, we were there at 6 to see what the line was like. It was prodigious, is what it was. Around the block, and I mean that literally - down past the Bloor, past Sonic Boom, up Bathurst, and around past the discount furniture place and down the alley. THAT was ONE line. The OTHER line, the one for ticket-holders (contest winners, etc) went the other way, past the espresso bar, around the corner and up that street, and nearly connected with the first line. We saw Donald and David in the ticket line and chatted until their line was allowed in. Then we did some browsing in Sonic Boom and went back on the street at 7pm - the first line was still standing on the sidewalk hoping to get in. So we went down Bloor and got coffee and tiramisu, rented some crazy movies, talked with the guy at Suspect about SCTV, watched the DIRTY PAIR box set that just came in, ate popcorn.

What are we doing today? We're not going to Deja Vu in Fonthill, it's closing time.

Comments

[tochiro998.livejournal.com]

Guy probably doesn't post his hours on the door because that would be, like, a promise or something and if he wants to knock off at 3 instead of 4, well, F.U. buddy, he's GONE.

Seems really stupid to me, rather anti-selling, but then again I wager the prices do that all by themselves. Just a hunch.

And the whole 'shut down by 4' thing? Gotta make the Early Bird at Old Country Buffet and Cracker Barrel and such like. You think I kid.

[davemerrill.livejournal.com]

I totally believe the Old Country Buffet timeslot, to be sure. I mean, these are businesses that are largely run by retirees and older folk who are up at dark 'o' thirty anyway. I wish I could get by on so little sleep.

We've had places here literally close door in our faces. And if the stated closing time is 4, you better believe at 3:45 they are turning off the lights and lockin' the door. If you're still in there shopping they are flashing the lights on and off and coughing loudly, making announcements over the PA, you name it.

On the other hand we've had places like the comic shop in Oshawa who let us browse 45 minutes past closing, and I don't know how many times I've been in the Beguiling after closing cutting into Chris's bar time.

[tochiro998.livejournal.com]

Well, I hate to say, I've been the guy flicking the lights at various points in time, but never when someone is actually shopping and intending to buy. There ARE people who go into stores just before closing just to see how long they can keep the place open past time, because it's some kind of goof or something. I suspect nowadays people would tweet about it.

Chris at The Beguiling really sounds like a good guy, per his blog and your comments in the past. Had I a job, and money, and lived in the area, that would probably be my main comic shop. I would totally clean him out of 'Dan Dare' collections.

Altho...is Silver Snail still around? I heard they used to have killer import toys.

[davemerrill.livejournal.com]

Silver Snail is still around. Probably going to be moving soon as their location is very pricey, Queen West is gentrifying at a rapid clip. Also parking is nonexistent. Yeah, I know, I should take the streetcar. They are also a very good store, lots of back issues, lots of new toys of all kinds. Toronto is kind of blessed with good comic book stores.

I can see you flickin' the lights in a mall store, it's a mall, you have a pretty specific window you have to get everybody out and close things down or the management starts looking at you funny. Sole proprietorships, though, what the hell, you're going to be ten minutes late getting to your couch and your hockey? Come on. You live in the sticks, you aren't going to miss your gallery opening or your film premiere.

We went to one place yesterday. Sign on the door said "open Saturday 10-5". The other sign said "Closing today at 3". And of course it was past 3 when we rolled up. Looked like a great place, too.

[sobieniak.livejournal.com]

You're lucky to be in Toronto. I usually have to contend with places that are either open to a mid-afternoon timeslot or just simply closed on Sundays as always.

[davemerrill.livejournal.com]

I could see a place like that being closed Sunday and Monday, sure. But Saturday is going to be your peak shopping day, the day when you say, hey, let's get in the car and check out that weird antique place that whatsisname was telling us about. You never know who's going to drop in on a Saturday. You'd think retail would be a little more amenable to this concept.

Of course this is Ontario, they only recently got rid of the blue laws, there's an undercurrent of wanting to live a genteel, calm, unhurried by commerce or progress sort of lifestyle, particularly away from The Evil Big City of Toronto.