Accessibility/Mobile Features
Skip Navigation
Skip to Content
Editorial News
Entertainment|
Business|
Sports|
Life & Style|
Opinion|
Multimedia|
Features
Classified Sites

Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

PERSPECTIVE: Walking down Main

Exclusive print-only feature

By: Staff Writer

5/06/2009 6:08 PM | Comments: 1

Enlarge Image Enlarge Image icon

(KEN GIGLIOTTI WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )

Editorial writer Tom Oleson recently strolled the 1.8 kilometre stretch of Main Street from Selkirk Avenue to Portage Avenue — the infamous Main Street Strip — and found it a better place than you might think and for reasons that you won’t guess.

The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission’s outlet at Main Street and Pritchard Avenue, hardly a frog’s jump north of Selkirk Avenue, is the only liquor store in the city that is open six days a week at nine o’clock in the morning.


Since Winnipeggers, whether they are in the Main Street area or have simply sunk to the depths of sipping sherry 24/7 in their Wolseley and River Heights homes, all work different shifts, live different lives and keep different hours, it is peculiar that liquor stores, or at least some of them, aren’t open 24/7.


But they are not. The closest the city comes to that is the liquor store at 1005 Main Street, and that is for a very particular reason. Some years ago, John Rodgers, who was then head of the Main Street Project, and members of some other organizations devoted to improving the lives of the drunk and the indigent on Main — the Non-Potable-Abuse Committee, as they were collectively called — approached the MLCC and asked it if it could open the Main Street store a little earlier than the puritanical 10 a.m. which is the opening hour most days of the week for every other liquor store.
 

For the full story, see today's newspaper or our fpNews electronic edition.

  • Rate this Rate This Star Icon
  • This article has not yet been rated.

    • We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

    You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

    Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

1 Commentscomment icon

yes, and opening liquor stores early has done such a wonder for the "locals" on Main st....

Post Your Commentcomment icon

Comment
  • You have characters left

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Special Coverage

  1. Flu Fight

    News about the world's battle against the H1N1 flu pandemic

  2. Winnipeg Blue Bomber Report

    All of the latest on the Big Blue

  3. Buy the Bowl

    If dogs can paint, you can fight world hunger

  4. Follow the Way!

    Join United Way on its journey toward lasting change and better lives.

More Special Coverage

Alerts

  1. Winnipeg road closures

    Check if your commute is affected

  2. Editor's Bulletin

    Sign up for daily bulletins

  3. Blogs to Watch

    We pick our favourite local blogs for you to follow

  4. Breaking News Widget

    Create and embed a Winnipeg Free Press breaking news widget on your site or blog