Store employee buys store to save jobs

Times Reporter

 

Store foreclosures happen more often than people realize. Not often does someone take into consideration all the jobs which will be lost, and do something about it. Ed McCune was the manager of the Movie Gallery for a number of years. and recently when he found out the store was going to close, he decided to buy the store.   

“We were just going to close originally. I had no interest in taking over and had no money for it,” said McCune. 

The staff was depressed at the thought of closing. Many of them work full-time jobs elsewhere, but work at the movie store because they love it. McCune’s dad talked with him about the store, telling him he wanted to help him and invest in it. 

“I still wonder why I did it sometimes. I just didn’t know if I wanted to go through all of the payroll and accounting and stuff again. As soon as I decided to, though, the staff was pretty happy, they didn’t want to quit,” said McCune. 

For 15 years he had run a business in Calgary, and for a period of time, him and his wife had owned a bookstore in Strathmore. The problem with the chain started about five years ago when the U.S Movie Gallery chain bought out Hollywood Video, a chain next to Blockbuster. They thought they could compete with Blockbuster and it didn’t work out well for them. Movie Gallery couldn’t pay the debts and eventually the creditors foreclosed and the company had to liquidate their Canadian stores to raise funds for their U.S creditors. 

The Movie Gallery wouldn’t sell him the stock because they wanted to liquidate it. The company did sell him the shelving units, and he made a deal with the landlord of the building about the rent. McCune spent part of the summer going to all of the Movie Gallerys buying up stock. Most of the managers weren’t going to continue on, so they would try to find him the good stock when they could. All the locations in the city closed due to the competition.  

“As much as I might protest, I’m enjoying this, I like the challenge and I’m busy all the time. If I have an hour with nothing to do I’m surprised,” said McCune. When the regular customers found out the store would remain open, just under a new name and management, they were happy. McCune thinks they come in because of the staff, and he spoke of each staff member in high regard. 

“I couldn’t do it with out them. It was largely their encouragement that got me to do it.” 

The name has been changed from the Movie Gallery to the Video Gallery, and soon McCune is hoping to have the new signs up. He was trying to keep it local, but unfortunately he may have to go to Calgary for a new sign because the owner wants it to be the same style as the other store names. The sign at the back of the store facing the highway should soon be changed. The one out front may take a bit longer. 

Each of the staff at the Video Gallery has a specialty when it comes to movie genres. McCune said some customers would only speak to specific staff members for their input and opinions on different movies. Many people don’t even know Ed is the manager/owner because he lets the staff take care of the customers and help them with all of their needs.