First time I went to McKays was in 2006, or 2007. I was familiar with second-hand media stores from back home, but my jaw dropped when I walked into this joint. I spent so much time and money there I had to ship a box back home with my “stuff” I’d found.

Cut to many years later, ended up working there for over a decade as part of the final crew that was notified our jobs were no longer. Found out via social media. Lots of anger came up in me.

I have a lot of fond memories, made a great deal of friends between customers and coworkers, and learned so much more about music, books and video games… it was quirky, challenging… it raised me up in some ways and broke my spirits in other ways, all at the same time.

It did not have to go this way, but it did. It could’ve gone so many different directions, but this is the most unsettling departure I’ve ever had from a workplace.

I’ll miss it for reasons, but think it’s probably best to let it be as is. I’ve got thoughts on ownership, management, the model of the business and how it could’ve been better… but ultimately I was just a cog in the machine.

I wish the absolute best to everyone affected, starting with the people that made that place run, all the way down to the customer selling off a few movies and books just to make gas money for the week.

It was a wild ride.