When it comes to legendary Toronto retail landmarks, few could truly rival the cultural significance of Sam the Record Man, where stepping into the store felt like you were entering the heart of the world’s vast musical catalog, and the knowledgeable staff there could effortlessly find you any record — no matter how obscure — with just a few hums of a tune.
A staple of the city’s music scene for half a century, the iconic record store became much more than just a regular place to buy albums, it became a gathering spot, a symbol, and eventually, an institution, with its towering neon sign of two spinning discs above Yonge Street.
Born in Toronto in 1920, Sam Sniderman’s journey into the world of music retail began in 1937, when he started selling records in his brother Sidney’s College Street store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service. The two brothers convinced the family to designate a corner of the store for records under the name “Sniderman’s Music Hall,” and by 1959, the business was booming.
Sam the Record Man in 1971. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
Sam the Record Man eventually took over the basement of Yolle Furniture at 259 Yonge St., and just two years later, moved his flagship store to 347 Yonge St., where it would remain until its closure in 2007. For the decades it operated, the store became a mecca for music lovers in Toronto and beyond, with its extensive selection of LP records, cassettes, and compact discs.
As the store’s popularity grew, customers would line up at the crack of dawn for album releases, and the store’s annual Boxing Day sale became a legendary event, attracting massive crowds without fail every year.
The store in 1987. Photo: Toronto Star.
The store saw heavy foot traffic, not only for its impressive collection, but also because of its close proximity to a strip of Yonge Street lined with entertainment venues like Colonial Tavern, Friar’s Tavern, Le Coq d’Or, and Steele’s Tavern.
By 1982, Sam the Record Man had grown to become Canada’s largest music retailer, boasting approximately 140 locations from coast to coast. The flagship store continued to expand into a multi-floor empire, and even offered a place to buy concert tickets.
Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
However, competition was fierce, and just up the street from Sam’s flagship, A&A Records’ store loomed large, that is, until 1993, when it filed for bankruptcy. Still, the rise of big-box retailers like Walmart and HMV, along with the growing influence of the internet as a music distribution platform, led to a huge reduction in sales.
In 2001, Sam the Record Man filed for bankruptcy, and the chain began closing its locations across Canada. Sniderman’s sons, Jason and Bobby, announced that the flagship store would be closing permanently on June 30, 2007.
Store in 1982. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
Almost immediately, A Facebook group and an online petition were posted to save the store’s signs, and even amassed over 18,000 supporters. After the closure, Ryerson University (now known as Toronto Metropolitan University) purchased the property in 2008 and turned it into its Student Learning Centre.
The store in 2007. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
Sam the Record Man’s original sign was constructed around 1969 by Sam and Jack Markle, which was 7.5 metres wide, 8 metres tall, and used mechanical units to make the records look like they were spinning. In 1987, a second sign was constructed by Claude Neon Inc., and that same year, neon letters spelling out “SAM” were added above both of the signs.
As part of the agreement, the university worked with the city to restore the iconic neon signs and mount them at a new location in Yonge-Dundas Square (now Sankofa Square).
In November 2017, the sign was installed atop the Toronto Public Health building at 277 Victoria St., on the northeast corner of Yonge-Dundas Square (Sankofa Square).
Photo: fotografiko eugen/Shutterstock.com
The official relighting ceremony took place in January 2018, bringing the famous neon spinning records back to life.
The Sam The Record Man sign atop 277 Victoria Street. Photo by Marcus Mitanis.
Though the flagship store may be gone, Sam Sniderman’s efforts to amplify Canadian talent, such as Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who, and Stompin’ Tom Connors, will never be forgotten and ensured that the country’s music was given the attention it deserved.
The Sam The Record Man sign atop 277 Victoria Street. Photo by Sonicgregu.
The last remaining Sam the Record Man franchise, in Belleville’s Quinte Mall, continues to operate under the iconic name.
