McNally Robinson
Encyclopedia
McNally Robinson Booksellers is a family-operated
chain of Canadian
independent bookstore
s founded in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
in 1981. It is managed by Holly and Paul McNally and their daughter Victoria (Tory).
, with her partner Ron Robinson, who quit the book business a year later to pursue a career with CBC Radio
. Robinson's name has remained attached to the enterprise because at the time he left, McNally didn't have the money to replace the store's signage. Beginning with just one small corner bookstore, Holly and her husband Paul gradually built McNally Robinson Booksellers into one of the largest independent bookstores in Canada, spreading to Saskatoon
and (formerly) Calgary
. Their daughter, Tory McNally, has assumed an increasing role in managing the day-to-day activities of the chain. The stores host readings and book launches by authors from Winnipeg, Canada and beyond.
McNally Robinson operates two stores: at Grant Park Mall in Winnipeg and on 8th Street in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
. A former Calgary location closed at the end of July, 2008. Two other locations, one at the Polo Park in Winnipeg and another at the Shops at Don Mills
in Toronto
, Ontario
, closed in December 2009. All current McNally Robinson stores are larger than 2000 square metres. Each is home to a full-service licensed restaurant, Prairie Ink.
On December 3, 2004, a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) store was opened in downtown Manhattan, New York City. The store operates under the name McNally Jackson; it is owned and operated by Sarah McNally, daughter of the founders, and is one of the largest independent stores in Manhattan.
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
chain of Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
independent bookstore
Independent bookstore
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.-Literary and countercultural history:Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons. The bookstores themselves, "have historically supported and cultivated the work of independent...
s founded in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in 1981. It is managed by Holly and Paul McNally and their daughter Victoria (Tory).
Overview
McNally Robinson was founded by Holly McNally in 1981 in Winnipeg, ManitobaManitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, with her partner Ron Robinson, who quit the book business a year later to pursue a career with CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
. Robinson's name has remained attached to the enterprise because at the time he left, McNally didn't have the money to replace the store's signage. Beginning with just one small corner bookstore, Holly and her husband Paul gradually built McNally Robinson Booksellers into one of the largest independent bookstores in Canada, spreading to Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
and (formerly) Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. Their daughter, Tory McNally, has assumed an increasing role in managing the day-to-day activities of the chain. The stores host readings and book launches by authors from Winnipeg, Canada and beyond.
McNally Robinson operates two stores: at Grant Park Mall in Winnipeg and on 8th Street in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. A former Calgary location closed at the end of July, 2008. Two other locations, one at the Polo Park in Winnipeg and another at the Shops at Don Mills
Shops at Don Mills
The Shops at Don Mills is a lifestyle centre - type shopping centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located at Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East.There are 72 retail stores with a total floor space of 47,550 square metres ....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, closed in December 2009. All current McNally Robinson stores are larger than 2000 square metres. Each is home to a full-service licensed restaurant, Prairie Ink.
On December 3, 2004, a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) store was opened in downtown Manhattan, New York City. The store operates under the name McNally Jackson; it is owned and operated by Sarah McNally, daughter of the founders, and is one of the largest independent stores in Manhattan.
Awards
McNally Robinson sponsors three literary awards:- McNally Robinson Book of the Year AwardMcNally Robinson Book of the Year AwardThe McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award is associated with Brave New Words: The Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards and was established in 1988. It is presented to the Manitoba writer whose adult English language book is judged the best written...
- McNally Robinson Book for Young People AwardMcNally Robinson Book for Young People AwardThe McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award is associated with Brave New Words: The Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards and was first sponsored by McNally Robinson Booksellers in 1997 and since then has been given in two categories: Young Adult and Children. It is presented to the two...
- McNally Robinson Aboriginal Book of the Year AwardMcNally Robinson Aboriginal Book of the Year AwardThe McNally Robinson Aboriginal Book of the Year Award is a Canadian literary award, presented annually since 2005 to a First Nations, Inuit or Métis writer for a work published in English in any literary genre...