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Courtesy Photo
Steve's Music Store in Toronto.
Business
Steve’s Music Store Closes Its Last Physical Location in Montreal
Earlier this year, the beloved music shop shut down most of its physical stores across Canada. Now, it will shift to an online-only model.
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Steve’s Music Store has officially shut its doors in Canada.
Most of the physical locations of the iconic Canadian music shop closed earlier this year, but its store in downtown Montreal is set to close, becoming the final physical store to shut down in the country.
In February, the store announced plans to downsize and close multiple locations across Canada — including major locations in Toronto and Ottawa — citing a “significant disruption across the sector” and a shift to focus on its online marketplace. Still, the Montreal-based chain held onto its flagship location.
“After decades of laughter, late-night conversations, and the hum of instruments being tried for the very first time, Steve’s Music Store will be closing its doors,” reads a statement on the store’s website.
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“Unfortunately, due to several factors, including the post-Covid world and the changing economy, we made the difficult decision to close and restructure the business.”
Founded by Steve Kirman, the Montreal location opened in 1965, selling instruments and other music paraphernalia. As Steve's continued to expand over the years, the business operated five locations, including its flagship location, two more in Quebec, one in Ottawa and the iconic Queen Street West location in Toronto.
While Kirman passed away in 2012, his son Michael Kirman took over the business. Last year, Steve’s Music Store celebrated its 60th anniversary in Montreal.
“We didn’t just sell guitars, drums, keyboards, or sheet music. We witnessed dreams’ beginning,” the online statement reads.
“The decision to close comes with a heavy heart, but also with overwhelming gratitude. Thank you for trusting us with your musical journeys. Thank you for letting our store be a place where creativity lived, where inspiration struck, and where community thrived.”
In the coming days, the store will provide details about its final sales, outstanding special orders, repairs and rentals, with plans to “make this transition as smooth as possible for everyone.”
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While the Montreal location was the jumping-off point for the store chain’s success, its Toronto location was a staple of the city’s music scene.
Canadian comedian Mike Myers was reportedly inspired to write a punchline for 1992’s Wayne’s World after he saw a sign in the Toronto store that jokingly banned anyone from playing Led Zeppelin’s hit “Stairway to Heaven.”
Before its closing, tons of plaques lined the wall behind the front desk, presented by now-defunct publications like NOW Magazine and Eye Weekly, which named the store among the “best of Toronto” in the late '90s and 2000s, according to Toronto Star.
Andy Chelminski, who oversaw Toronto’s liquidation, told the Star only the flagship Montreal location “might” survive the business restructuring. While it proved to be true, it only lasted a few months.
“Even though the storefront will close, the memories won’t,” the Montreal store’s website statement says. “The music you created, the moments you shared, and the energy you brought into our space will stay with us forever.”
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