Steve’s Music to Close Most Stores After 60-Year Run in Ontario and Quebec

Steve’s Music, a longtime Canadian musical instrument retailer founded in 1965, is closing the majority of its physical stores across Ontario and Quebec after more than 60 years in business.

According to reports from customers and social media updates from staff, the company is undergoing a restructuring that will see multiple locations including those in Ottawa, Toronto, and several in Quebec shut down within the next 30 days. Some local managers have indicated that only the downtown Montreal store will remain open as a physical location, with the rest set to close or transition to other formats.

Steve’s Music has historically operated several stores across major Canadian cities and is known for its range of instruments and accessories, catering to generations of musicians. Founded by Steven Kirman in Montreal, the business expanded over decades with stores in Toronto, Ottawa, Greenfield Park, and Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

Longtime customers and community members have responded with a mix of nostalgia and disappointment, sharing memories of purchases and experiences at the stores, even as many note competitive pressures and changing retail patterns in the music equipment market.

The closures mark the end of an era for one of Canada’s most enduring independent music retailers, leaving a reduced footprint in the industry and prompting discussions about the future of specialty music stores in the country.