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] => 
        )

)
1637848843 
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.”

 

Here are the Books We Love: 350+ great 2024 reads recommended by NPR

Books We Love returns with 350+ new titles handpicked by NPR staff and trusted critics. Find 12 years of recommendations all in one place — that's nearly 4,000 great reads.

After 15 years, Megan Atherton reunites with her ‘Unsung Hero’

A special reunion conversation between Megan Atherton and the woman who changed the course of her life.

Plastic waste is everywhere. Countries have one more chance to agree on a solution

Negotiations over a U.N. treaty to cut plastics have been bogged down. Environmental groups blame the oil and gas industry.

Romania in shock after far-right populist enters presidential election’s runoff

Romania's political landscape is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister.

You can reduce your risk of dementia. Here’s how to get started

About 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by healthy lifestyle choices and preventive medicine. Here's a tool to gauge your brain care and track your progress.

The holidays are stressful. Restore your calm with these 5 quick tricks

Keep these science-backed stress busters in your back pocket this holiday season. Whip 'em out the next time you're at a table full of bickering in-laws or your flight gets canceled!

More Arts and Culture Coverage