Steve’s Music, a long-standing fixture in the music scenes of Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal, is set to close nearly all of its stores. The chain made the announcement of liquidating inventory at all five locations over the weekend. The plan is to keep only the Montreal store on rue Sainte-Catherine open, as confirmed by the Ottawa manager.
Dan Sauvé, with over 25 years of experience at Steve’s Music in Ottawa and Montreal, expressed acceptance of the decision, noting the evident industry trends. The impending closure has drawn dismay from loyal customers like Jon Granda, a percussionist, who lamented the impact on the Ottawa music community.
Frédéric Laforge, a long-time customer at Steve’s Music, shared his disappointment, highlighting the challenges faced by artists with the closure of such establishments. The company’s founder, Steve Kirman, established the first store in Old Montreal back in 1965.
The shift in the marketplace and the need to adapt have led Steve’s Music to focus more on online retail, according to Sauvé. The company aims to navigate these changes by leveraging its industry expertise to pivot effectively. While there is no definitive closing date for the Ottawa store, customers like Granda emphasized the unique experience of physically trying out musical equipment in a brick-and-mortar store.
The transition to predominantly online operations marks a significant change for Steve’s Music, signaling a new chapter for the iconic music retailer.