McNolia's closing shop in Five Points

A long-popular retail shop in Five Points South is closing after more than three decades in business. 

McNolia’s Cards & Gifts – a destination for novelty items since 1984 – is closing after Wednesday, Aug. 31, according to co-owner Earl Capellen. The store’s other co-owner is Ron Briggs. 

“It’s just time to retire,” Capellen, 62, said. “One of the big secrets in life to know when to leave the party. The timing is right. It’s time to hang it up and do something else."

There are some other factors at work in the decision to close McNolia’s, including changes in the retail business, according to Capellen. 

“We’ve outlived vendors, particularly our greeting card vendors,” Capellen said, adding that many of them either retired or quit the business. “With them gone, it leaves a huge void, so there’s not really, in my opinion, [cards] coming along to replace them that are as funny.” 

Capellen said McNolia’s used a simple formula in picking cards for the shop. “We always did funny,” he said. “We always did naughty. It was just really good humor. We always tried to find the newest and the funniest stuff.” 

“There are still some great card lines out there, but the ones for our niche, there not a replacement for it,” he said. 

The Internet has also taken “a tremendous amount” of business from small, local retailers, according to Capellen.

“In the old days, people would come to this store to see what’s new,” he said. “Now they just push the button. And I imagine for most people that works pretty well. Why do they need to come to me if they can go to the web site and buy it?” 

“Everything” about running the store has been fun, according to Capellen – “The customers. The merchandise. Working for yourself. And we were lucky. We has a great customer base.” 

Capellen said he has not yet decided what he will do next. 

McNolias Cards & Gifts is located at 1923 11th Ave. South. For more information, including store hours, call 933-1923 or go to the store's Facebook page.