Updated July 2010
------------------------------------------------------------
Original post from December 2007:
The owners of the Megatunes building on at 934 17th Avenue, just west of the Devenish, have applied for a development permit to restore the facade to a more original appearance. The work will restore the original storefront look on the main level, remove the 70s canopies above, and restore a cornice to the top of the building. More history on the building below the images.
Historic street photo. Megatunes building on left - note cornice now removed:
934 - Calhoun Block (Megatunes)
Typical Edwardian commercial block with retail at ground floor and apartments above. The cornice on the 17th Avenue side has been removed, but a cornice remains on the 16th Avenue side.
Early retail tenants include Velvet Delicatessen and Henry Levant grocery. Eventually fell into the city’s hands for non-payment of taxes (a common thing in the tough years between the Great War and WW2.) Purchased in 1939 by plumber John Hillier*, who renamed it the Goderich Lodge after his home in Goderich, Ontario. Converted into retail and office in 1988 – Megatunes since then.
*Hillier had a long history on this strip of the Avenue. In 1911 Campbell and Hillier Ltd., “sanitary plumbing, heating and ventilating engineers”, was established just west of the 9th Avenue corner (specifically 1008-17th Avenue SW). In 1929 the business built the brick building that now has Rogers Video. The plumbing company stayed at that location until 1976. The 1980s building on the corner is named the ‘Hillier Block’ (home of Caffe Beano, Daily Globe News, etc.).
Several sources, including Harry Sanders "Historic Walks of Calgary", CHI tour research, etc.