McNolia’s in Five Points South Closes After 32 Years

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:975;s:6:"height";i:650;s:4:"file";s:34:"2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-768x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"earl_capellen_mcnolias-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:372594;s:14:"optimized_size";i:245976;s:7:"percent";d:33.979999999999997;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:112679;s:14:"optimized_size";i:58320;s:7:"percent";d:48.240000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:70:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias-771x514.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:92628;s:14:"optimized_size";i:62743;s:7:"percent";d:32.259999999999998;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3656;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3609;s:7:"percent";d:1.29;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:70:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:56173;s:14:"optimized_size";i:41770;s:7:"percent";d:25.640000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:70:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:29469;s:14:"optimized_size";i:21727;s:7:"percent";d:26.27;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:70:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias-467x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:43824;s:14:"optimized_size";i:32483;s:7:"percent";d:25.879999999999999;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:70:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/earl_capellen_mcnolias-398x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:34165;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25324;s:7:"percent";d:25.879999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Greg Bass
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1635867452 
1472627635

A Birmingham landmark is closing. McNolia’s in Five Points South will be remembered for its edgy, funny greeting cards and outrageous novelty items. Earl Capellen, who opened the store in 1984, explains why now is the time to walk away.

“It’s time to retire. It’s time to retire — it’s come full circle. It’ll be 32 years old when we finish up. My work here is done.”

When the word got out that McNolia’s was closing, Capellen started hearing from former clients in California and New York and everywhere in between.

“All this is bittersweet,” he says, adding, “The people were always the fun part of it. I mean that and some nonsensical piece of merchandise and the party’s going.”

Nonsensical merchandise like an electric spaghetti fork or solar-powered kissing cuties. Speaking of which, John McGill of Birmingham stopped by to pick up “butt-faced towels, and bombs-away shot glasses. And I think the clown shoes are awesome. You tie them on to your shoes and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Lisa Alexander has been a McNolia’s customer from the very beginning.

“I mean they have things in here — it’s just fun to come and shop. Even when you don’t have something going on, even if it’s not a birthday. You can walk around and see things you don’t see anywhere else. And get a smile.”

Capellen, 62, says loyal customers are one reason he stayed in business so long. He doesn’t know what his next act will be, so he plans to take a long vacation and think about that. But he knows he takes with him fond memories of the fun he’s created at McNolia’s.

“I still look back on some of the things we’ve sold over the years and chuckle. That’s really funny. We’ve always laughed with people, and not at people. Don’t do things that are disparaging, do things that are genuinely funny. Genuinely funny. But you know, there’s a lid for every pot.”

 

U.K. Conservatives pick Kemi Badenoch as their party’s new leader

The party elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader as it tries to rebound from a crushing defeat that ended 14 years in power. She is the first Black woman to lead a major British political party.

Chef Edward Lee reflects on ‘Culinary Class Wars’, identity and his next chapter

After three decades in Southern cuisine, Lee's next culinary chapter explores Korean American cooking, moving beyond traditional recipes and fusion concepts.

Iran’s supreme leader threatens Israel, U.S. with ‘crushing response’ to Israeli attack

Iran's supreme leader threatened Israel and the U.S. with “a crushing response” over attacks on Iran and its allies. The Pentagon said Friday that more U.S. forces would be coming to the region.

At a historic cemetery in the South, a Dia de los Muertos festival takes root

At a historic Southern cemetery, a Mexican tradition has found a home.

As ACA sign ups start, more Americans have health insurance than ever. Will it last?

Enrollment in Affordable Care Act health plans has grown every year of the Biden administration, leading to record low numbers of people who are uninsured.

Women sharing personal stories about abortion bans have become a political force

Women who have suffered unnecessarily after being denied abortions are talking about it publicly, and to support candidates. Could these stories have a political impact in the upcoming election?

More Arts and Culture Coverage