Canada88.com
When was the last time you saw an independent computer shop? Bet it’s been a while. There used to be lots of them, busy places all, with seemingly one on every corner, but mostly they’ve gone the way of the dinosaur. It’s one tough racket and even the big chains struggle. Customers are demanding and the margins…well…paper thin would be a dream. It’s measured in microns. No money and big headaches = tough times guaranteed.
Here’s a former outlet. The signage remains as though still in business, but it’s been closed for some time. This here is Canada88.com (aka “Canada88.com, Alberta Computer Warehouse” or just “Alberta Computer Warehouse, 9th Ave SE Outlet”), operating, or should we say formerly operating, out of an old gas station. This in particular draws us in. What an interesting place to house a business, especially one dealing in tech. It’s been on our radar for some time now and finally we take the time to stop by.
The building dates from 1966 and was originally a Texaco Full Service Gas Station with an attached garage. This operated as best we can tell, into the late 1970s, perhaps a bit longer (data’s as scarce as a politician with integrity). Later, we understand it was run as a independent auto repair shop, for a time at least, with no gas sold. It’s right across the road from the Blackfoot Truck Stop, a Calgary Institution. Hmmm…breakfast.
When it became Canada88.com is not clear. The first references we can find (ads, phone book entries) suggests the latter half of the 1990s or thereabouts. They operated into about 2005-ish as best we can guess (again, via ads and such). Ever since the place has been dark. Never once in recent times have we seen any activity there – well sometimes a big truck parks out front, but that’s about it.
The Canada88.com website is still up. The main page hosts a Chinese Newspaper, but if one digs deep, they can find remnants from this computer business. Samsung Hard Drives! 40 gigs? I’m in! AOC monitors – I used to have one. Hercules Video Cards rule! “Canon S230 Power Shot 3.2Mega Pixel Digital Camera Retail Box with 16MB compact flash memory card….In Stock NOW!!!!”
I could get into photography.
Reading all these abandoned pages brings a chuckle. Those prices. The capacity of things – did we really get by with 128 megabytes of memory? Upgrade your 286 or 386! Search out the site and see for yourself. And reminisce, remembering brands vanished and parts long obsolete, a snap shot of computing from a decade and a half ago.
It seems that Canada88.com joined with, partnered with or was taken over by another firm “Alberta Computer Warehouse” at some point (early 2000s?), becoming their 9th Ave SE outlet. Interestingly, their other, founded in the early to mid-1990s we think (again, ads and such), was/is on the west side of downtown on 9th Ave SW – straight line from one shop to the other. I recall buying a one gig “Quantum” hard drive from this other shop many years back. This outlet seems to have been dormant since 2005, give or take. Too bad, they have a good deal on Computer “Spekers”.
Back on 9th Ave SE, the Canada88.com signage was retained even if the business now operated under the same name as the other outlet. The old website was retained and makes mention of both stores. A second website, albertacomputer.com, tied to outlet one, did the same.
So they got ten years, or so, from the business. They did better than most computer shops. Even in the heyday, the majority of independents lasted a few years at best (according to city licensing records).
The Canada88.com building still looks every bit the service station. And more precisely every bit the Texaco Service Station. Those green parallel lines and the distinctive round signs (long gone but still obvious where they were), are sure fire spotting features. This design of station can be traced back to the 1930s in the US (introduced in Canada the late 1950s). Soon after this one was constructed the company-wide design changed to something else. This was one of the last in that respect.
Typically the facade of Texaco Gas Stations were decorated with stars. The stars were everywhere – on attendant uniforms too – “You can trust your car to the man that wears the star” – a line from the company jingle (circa 1960s).
Texaco branded gas stations operated in Alberta from the late 1950s to the late 1980s when the operation was absorbed by a competitor (Imperial Oil).
Some snippets found during research suggest the building may be threatened. We’re currently digging deeper. We did find some petitions for redevelopment but they were a bit unclear. File it under rumour at this point. Still, it wouldn’t surprise us. Not much sentiment in this here town for old buildings, the mindset, bulldoze it all and put up something big and new and shiny (and soulless). We’ll be watching this.
If you’ve been following our adventures you’ll know we’ve been practising night shots, an aspect of photography we’ve been struggling with. These were test shots, that seemed to work out well. The streak in one photo, by the way, is a plane coming in for a landing. It moved some distance over the long exposure.
More like this…
Nagway Inn.
Oliver House.
The (Big Yellow) Enoch Sales House.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: January, 2018.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Article references (and thanks): City of Calgary, Canadian Encyclopedia, Canada88.com, Alberta Computer Warehouse, Imperial Oil Records.
Canada88,com, a closed computer shop – light streak is an airplane.
The building was long ago a gas station.
The firm’s website is still up – and what deals can be found there.
Cool. Another place I have driven by often.
I’ve driven past so many times I started not even noticing it. Then one day it hit me, next time it might be gone. There’s rumblings that the land is due to be redeveloped.
How many of you remember when the Blackfoot Trail used to run along the east side of the service station?
That must be going back to the 1950s at least. Found an old gas station map from that era showing that alignment. Thanks for commenting!
Bought a motherboard and hard drive there long ago for an upgrade.
Back when people used to upgrade computers. With things be so cheap it’s now easier to just replace the whole thing now. Thanks for chiming in.
Across from the Blackfoot truckstop.
Yes…as mentioned in the write up. Is the article not coming across properly?
What exactly is happening with this place? Can it become a historic site? What does the BRZ have to say about it? It would be nice to see it become a part of 9th avenues boutiques.
No news in that regard I’m afraid. We saw a redevelopment petition but it was not current.
I used to live across Blackfoot Trail from this station and my father dealt there and I also believe it was there in the 50s.
The city says it’s from 1967. I keep having a this feeling it’s older too, but nothing to corroborate that came up in research. If not that, maybe there was an earlier station here?
It would be a great location for an Antique store.
Agreed. Tearing it down would be a shame.
I love seeing your posts. It is sad, of course, that so many homes and businesses are no longer occupied. Alberta has had ups and downs. I hope time will bring about positive changes for the Oil Industry.
Thanks, glad you enjoy our work. Not sure if oil had anything to do with the demise of the shop. I think no matter the economic environment, computers are difficult business to be in.
Isn’t that where they want to build that controversial high-rise?
I didn’t see anything in regards to that during research. Perhaps somewhere else close by?
Right across from the Blackfoot Diner , another great hold over from Calgary’s past.
Yes, right across from there.
Is that near inglewood ? by the blackfoot truck stop ?
Yes, that’s the place. Perhaps you didn’t see the write up above the photos.
Great night photography on that old gas station/computer store.
Thanks so very much Glen. We’ve struggled with certain aspects of night photography. Now I think we’ve got then down and are ready to apply them to rural subjects. Fingers crossed.