Yes, it’s true. Sonic Boom, an institution in Toronto’s record store community and one of my favourite places to look for records, is being forced out of its current location at 512 Bloor Street West.
In its place, the landlord is replacing it with…a giant Dollarama.
But fear not. According to store founder/manager Jeff Barber, Sonic Boom will be moving this summer to a new location just around the corner – taking up space inside the Honest Ed’s building on the side that faces Bathurst Street. Barber also hints that a new satellite location will open in Kensington Market in mid-July, focusing specifically on vinyl.
Although I’m obviously pleased to hear one of my favourite stores isn’t going to be shut down, I find it inexplicable why a cornerstone of the Annex strip east of Bathurst/west of Spadina would be tossed out by a landlord in favour of a giant dollar store.
If the landlord’s purpose is to extend some of the blight that lies further west on Bloor, mission accomplished!
As Barber indicates in the link above, sales have been steady since opening in 2001. He suggests that Sonic Boom was even willing to pay more rent or even make an offer to purchase the property.
But no dice, much to the chagrin of regulars such as myself. I can only imagine what denizens of the Annex must think about another dollar store taking over a large storefront on Bloor.
Oh well. It seems it’s almost time for me to get over my fear of entering the Honest Ed’s building…
Fear of Honest Ed’s? What’s to be afraid of? It is kind of like Zellers Meets the Circus I suppose….