Sometimes I’m caught reminiscing about the stores that have come and gone in my life. Places that provided me with various levels of joy, but no longer exist. Here are some of those businesses:

#5: HMV

A favourite store of a young Sip Advisor, HMV was the place to get the latest music, movie or even poster. I never knew until now, but HMV stood for His Master’s Voice, taken from a painting of a dog listening to a phonograph, which became the company’s logo. After all, the company first existed as a one of the earliest recording companies, founded in 1921. Some HMV locations can still be found in the U.K. Similar companies, such as Suncoast Motion Picture Company (only five locations left in the U.S. as of 2021) are also deserving of mention in this category.

#4: Playdium Arcade

When Burnaby’s Metrotown Mall added its Metropolis expansion, one of the feature tentants was Playdium Arcade, complete with arcade games, fun food, motion simulators, and the other typical arcade fare. Today, the space is occupied by a Winners store. How the mighty have fallen! Reasons for the mid-2000s closure vary from mismanagement to rent increases. Apparently, The Rec Room, which has opened a location nearby the Sip Advisor, is a spiritual successor of Playdium, so Mrs. Sip and I will have to check out the place sometime.

#3: Future Shop

It used to be that any time of friend or family member’s birthday approached, a simple trip to Future Shop provided ample opportunity to get a gift for whoever was being celebrated. It was also a one-stop destination for Christmas presents. Future Shop was acquired by Best Buy, once the chain moved north from the U.S. While the Best Buys still exist, I just don’t have any reason to go in them anymore, as I haven’t bought anything they offer in years. In a similar vein, I should include Circuit City, which was visited on countless trips to the States as a teen and young adult.

#2: KB Toys

Toys R’ Us (which many Americans would include on a list like this, but the store still exists in Canada) may have been the king of toy stores when I was growing up, but there was a certain charm to KB Toys stores, which were stocked as high as can be with toys of every type in small, narrow-aisled facilities. I have many memories of finding wrestling figures and other treasured items at the Bellis Fair location in Bellingham, Washington. I also remember once coming up to the cashier at another location and finding a $20 bill laying right in front of me. I got my toy and got some cash, so it was a big win on all accounts.

#1: Rogers Video/Blockbuster/Jumbo Video

The video rental store has gone the way of the dodo, which makes me sad in that I’ll never get to share that experience with the Sipplings. Before Blockbuster finally arrived in Canada, other options such as Rogers Video and Jumbo Video provided me and my friends with countless hours of enjoyment. It all started with the thrill of perusing the thousands of titles available and deciding on what you wished to view on any given night. Then, the actual watching of the movie, TV show or other form of media was almost secondary. Mrs. Sip and I often reminisce about this amazing part of our childhoods and early dating years.

Cocktail Corner: The Corner Store

• 2 oz Whiskey
• 0.25 oz Absinthe
• Top with Club Soda
• Splash of Cherry Syrup
• Splash of Lemon Juice
• Dash of Yuzu Juice
• Dash of Ginger Beer
• Garnish with Maraschino Cherries

An honourable mention goes to Payless Shoes, which provided me the opportunity to get my shoe shopping done quickly for minimal cost. That’s all I’ve ever asked from my shopping experiences!