Montreal institution Steve’s Music Store closing locations amid restructuring

Just over a half-year after celebrating its 60th anniversary, Montreal institution Steve’s Music Store is liquidating merchandise ahead of restructuring that will involve store closures.

A long-time destination for Montreal musicians, Steve’s has asked for protection from its creditors following declining sales and competition from online shipping.

The late Steve Kirman’s son, Mike Kirman, told CTV News that all stores are going through restructuring and they will be “closing a couple of stores” to “stay strong in a competitive market.”

“It’s too hard to maintain so many arms all over the place to try to concentrate and reorganize, to be more efficient and modern,” said Kirman, who took over the business from his father, the founder of the store.

The store has grown to a total of five outlets, and Kirman says the brick-and-mortar model has put him in a tough financial situation. He’s liquidating the inventory to pay creditors.

On Saturday and Sunday, the five Steve’s Music Store locations in Montreal, DDO, Greenfield Park, Toronto and Ottawa had “everything must go” liquidation sales with up to half off.

Longtime staff at the Montreal store say it’s obvious the price of instruments is out of reach for many buyers.

‘It’s hard to see people struggling to buy instruments. At the end of the day, we sell a luxury product. The times are tough right now and it’s sad to see that,” said Jacob Brian, who works in the guitars department.

But Steve’s is not going bankrupt.

They’ve placed themselves under the protection of their creditors with the goal of saving as much of the business as possible and keep at least the downtown location open.

The downtown Montreal store moved nine years ago from St-Antoine Street to Ste-Catherine Street.

Locations in Brossard, the West island, Ottawa and Toronto will close for good once the liquidation is over.

Kirnan said the idea of restructuring “is to focus on this location and online and build up from there and I guess come back bigger and stronger.”

For long-time customers, Steve’s was always part of their rock and roll fantasy. Steve Kirnan called them “the dreamers.”

The music store has been a Montreal institution for performers since 1965, with its “try before you buy” mantra.

“In 1999, my dad lent me the money, I went downstairs and got my first drum set, which I still have. And I’ve been coming ever since,” Miles Smart told CTV News while shopping for percussion instruments.

Kenneth William Polinar spent the morning trying out several discounted cymbals during our visit.

“I was trying this for almost 30 minutes in there. It’s kind of different if you tried it than to purchase it online and you don’t get the choice. It’s going to hit or miss,” he told CTV News.

Kirman just hopes young musicians will never give up on the music store experience.

“You know, you come there, you pick up a guitar, and you’re just transported different world,” he said.

And that’s music to the ears for anyone attached to their instrument.