HAL’S HEADLINES: More store closures announced for Winnipeg
Article content
Only a week after Starbucks announced the closure of its Osborne Village location, Giant Tiger says it’s shutting down two of its Winnipeg stores this summer. Stores at 1441 Main Street and 305 McPhillips Street will close in July. Unlike Starbucks, which cited safety concerns, Giant Tiger is less specific, saying the locations are challenging for the company’s business model. But there’s no doubt that crime is a factor which impacts the bottom line. Marketing professor David Soberman at the University of Toronto says one of the biggest pressures in retail right now is theft. And one of the worst areas for theft in stores is self-checkouts which is why we’re seeing a return to human cashiers. He says retail, with its many challenges, is a much tougher nut to crack than it was a decade ago. I hope things improve on this front soon because when stores close, people lose their jobs.
‘THE BURNING SEASON’
Winnipeg filmmaker Sean Garrity is already out with a new movie just a year after his last release. The Burning Season is the story of an illicit affair told backwards. The film begins at the end of a relationship as it’s falling apart. I love Sean’s work! And the critics really like The Burning Season which has an 88% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. It’s now playing locally at Cineplex Odeon McGillivray Cinemas.
JIMI HENDRIX OF BAGPIPES
Fred Morrison is one of the best bagpipers in the world and he’s coming to Winnipeg next week. The legendary Scottish piper has been selling out shows across Canada on his current tour but surprisingly there are still some seats available for his concert on Wednesday night at the Crescent Fort Rouge Arts Centre at 525 Wardlaw Ave. Showtime is 7 p.m. Don’t miss seeing this incredible artist. Tickets are available through the St. Andrew’s Society website.
SLEEPCATION TRAVEL TREND
If you truly need to rest and relax, you might want to consider a sleepcation. It’s a new travel trend where you go on vacation to get some deep sleep. It could even involve checking into a hotel in your own city. Some hotels are getting in on the trend by offering special sleep packages that include a fancy bed, blackout curtains, sound machines and sleep-enhancing supplements.
YOUNGER BOYFRIENDS
Celebrities like Madonna are notorious for having younger boyfriends. But a new Danish study says dating a so-called “boy toy” might shorten a woman’s life. Women with men 10 years younger are 20% more likely to die early. Health advisor Stacey Litam says it could be because an older woman takes on more stress in the relationship. That may be true but as my wife Jackie says, “what a way to go!” LOL!
HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!
Please be sure you make Sunday a very special day for all the mothers in your life. My mom Ada passed away almost two years ago now but I’ll be thinking of her this weekend and remembering some of the valuable lessons she taught me when I was a kid. Like “if you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can’t go to the store with me.” And “just wait until your father gets home!” I love you, mom!
— Hal has written columns for years. He’s also the host of Connecting Winnipeg weekday mornings from 10 to noon on 680 CJOB. You can email him at Hal@HalAnderson.ca.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.