Montreal-founded musical instrument retailer Steve’s Music is undertaking a major restructuring that will see most of its Canadian brick-and-mortar locations close. The business will concentrate around a single flagship store in Montreal while shifting more heavily toward online sales.
The move represents a significant transition for a chain that has operated for six decades and has long served as a destination for musicians in several major Canadian cities. Management has described the initiative as a restructuring intended to keep the company competitive in a challenging retail environment.
Chain moves into liquidation across five stores
Steve’s Music currently operates five locations across Canada, including three in the Montreal area as well as stores in Toronto and Ottawa. The Montreal stores are located on Rue Sainte-Catherine East in Ville-Marie, in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, and in Greenfield Park. The Toronto store is on Queen Street West, while the Ottawa location is on Catherine Street in Centretown.
The company has launched “everything must go” liquidation sales at all five stores, with discounts of up to about 50 percent promoted for the initial weekend of the announcement. Management has described the process as a restructuring designed to “stay strong” or “remain robust” while reorganizing operations.
According reports, the intent is to close every location except the flagship on Rue Sainte-Catherine East in Montreal. That store is expected to remain open after the restructuring as the company focuses on a single physical location supported by e-commerce.
The Ottawa store is confirmed to be closing and is currently liquidating inventory. No firm final day of operation has been announced. The Toronto Queen Street West location, as well as the two suburban Montreal stores, are also part of the liquidation event and are expected to close as part of the Steve’s Music restructuring.
Customers and staff have described the closures as a major loss for local music communities, particularly in downtown Ottawa and Toronto where large, full-line music retailers have become increasingly rare.
Six decades of music retail history
Steve’s Music was founded in Montreal in 1965 by Steven Kirman, who opened the original store in Old Montreal at the age of 18. The business grew to occupy most of a city block on what is now Rue Saint-Antoine, becoming a landmark destination for local and touring musicians.
The company expanded outside Quebec in 1977 with the opening of its Toronto store on Queen Street West. That location introduced a “try before you buy” approach that was uncommon in the local market at the time and became a defining feature of the brand.
Over the following decades, Steve’s Music built out its presence in Montreal’s downtown core as well as in suburban markets such as Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Greenfield Park. The Ottawa location operated on Rideau Street for 42 years before relocating to Catherine Street in 2024. Management cited crime, safety concerns, and challenging operating conditions on Rideau Street as reasons for the move.
Founder Steven Kirman died in 2012 at the age of 65. The business has since been led by his son, Michael Kirman, who continues to represent the company publicly.
A long-standing role in Canadian music communities
For decades, Steve’s Music positioned itself as a full-line, mid-to-large format music retailer. Its stores carried guitars, drums, keyboards, recording gear, DJ equipment, synthesizers, and accessories, with a strong emphasis on in-person testing.
The company’s locations became important hubs for musicians of all levels. Customers often visited to test instruments before tours or recording sessions, and the brand built a reputation for its hands-on retail experience.
The Queen Street West store in Toronto, in particular, grew alongside the transformation of the surrounding neighbourhood from a gritty, alternative strip into a more mainstream commercial corridor. The ability to try instruments before purchasing remained central to the retailer’s identity and served as a key point of differentiation from online competitors.
Shift toward e-commerce amid retail pressures
Company representatives have framed the Steve’s Music restructuring as a strategic move to remain competitive in a difficult environment for brick-and-mortar music retailers. Management has pointed to changing customer traffic patterns and the continued shift toward online purchasing.
The Ottawa store’s management has publicly discussed the need to adapt as more sales move to digital channels. The company is expected to rely more heavily on e-commerce once the restructuring is complete.
The broader context includes ongoing pressure on specialty retailers from online competitors, changes in downtown foot traffic, and local operating challenges in certain urban markets.
A turning point for a legacy retailer
The Steve’s Music restructuring marks a major turning point for one of Canada’s best-known music retail chains. The company celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025, with local media highlighting its historic role and ongoing relevance in Montreal’s music community.
As liquidation sales continue across the chain’s five locations, the future of the business is expected to centre on its Montreal flagship and online operations. The transition reflects broader shifts in specialty retail and the evolving role of physical stores in an increasingly digital marketplace.
