Megatunes (Calhoun block) news

Status of new or continuing risks to heritage sites

Moderator: newsposter

Megatunes (Calhoun block) news

Postby newsposter » Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:33 am

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.

Image

Historic street photo. Megatunes building on left - note cornice now removed: Image

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.
Last edited by newsposter on Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:32 pm, edited 3 times in total.
newsposter
 
Posts: 1964
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:13 am

Postby newsposter » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:18 pm

Founder of Megatunes dies

Calgary's music scene loses mega icon
Megatunes owner remembered by friends, artists

Heath McCoy, Calgary Herald
Published: Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Back in 1988 when Mike Pleau quit his job as a record rep in the then-booming music industry to open up his own music store -- one that would specialize in independent music both locally and from around the world -- many of his colleagues "thought he was nuts."

That's certainly how Allison Brock of CKUA Radio remembers it.

But 20 years later, Megatunes is an institution of the Calgary music scene and it's regarded as one of the finest independent music stores in the country, set to be recognized as such at next year's Canadian Music Week in Toronto.
...

click the link below for full story

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... f47811c219
newsposter
 
Posts: 1964
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:13 am

Postby newsposter » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:31 pm

Updated. Renovations to the Megatunes building (Calhoun Block) underway as of fall 2008. See above.

Link to more information:
http://www.avisonyoung.com/Calgary/Prop ... lease/871/
newsposter
 
Posts: 1964
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:13 am

Postby newsposter » Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:45 am

Over the summer the 17th Avenue facade of the Megatunes building, just west of the Devenish, got a new cornice. Combined with the ground level renovations, the building has recovered an "original" look, overcoming some unsympathetic 70s modifications. Congratulations and thank you to the owners.
newsposter
 
Posts: 1964
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:13 am

Postby newsposter » Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:30 pm

Say it ain't so! :cry:

Megatunes to close music stores
Last Updated: Monday, July 5, 2010 | 9:13 PM ET
CBC News
Megatunes, an independent Alberta music retailer, is closing its two stores in Calgary and Edmonton by the end of the summer...

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2010/07/05 ... z0srxoy9pm

Staff, patrons mourn closure of Megatunes
'Big part of the local music community'
By Valerie Fortney, Calgary Herald July 6, 2010

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainm ... z0suqW741C

FFWD story
Sign o’ the Tunes; After 22 years in business, the end is nigh for beloved music store Megatunes
Published July 15, 2010 by Jesse Locke in Music Features http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/music ... unes-6002/
newsposter
 
Posts: 1964
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:13 am


Return to Heritage Watch

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 42 guests

cron