Calgary’s Crown Surplus store is shutting down after operating in the city’s Inglewood neighbourhood for 71 years.

Owner John Cumming has told media outlets that he plans to sell the property on which the military souvenir and wares store sits. Beginning in October, Crown Surplus will only be open on weekends until closing for good.

He and his partner intend to retire.

“We both just want to slow down a little bit and get less stress out of our life,” he told CBC. “In the last year and a half, I’m kind of taking from Peter to pay Paul, you know? Business has been a little quiet.”

John Cumming’s grandfather Al started the business in 1953. For a number of years, the store sold military surplus items for the federal government.

Al turned the business over to his son Gord. When Gord could no longer operate the store for health reasons, he passed it down to his son about seven years ago, CBC reported. Al died of Lewy body dementia four years ago at age 80, according to reports.

“I lost my best friend in 2020, which was my father, and he was Crown Surplus,” John Cumming told Postmedia.

“I’m 61 . . . and life is short, I’ve come to the realization of that,” John said. “There’s a lot of things I want to do in the next 15, 20 years.

“I’ve been here a long time, and I’m just ready to pass the torch on, or, you know, ride off into the sunset. One or the other.”

Items that do not sell before the store’s closure will be scrapped or donated, he told Postmedia.

Photo: Courtesy of Goodman Commercial