Music
Sonic Boom moving to Honest Ed's
Popular Toronto record store Sonic Boom will be moving from its current home at 512 Bloor Street West to take up shop at nearby Honest Ed's in late August. According to a press release issued by the store, the move comes as a result of the landlord's decision "to hand the space over to a large corporation without giving [store owner Jeff] Barber the opportunity to meet or beat whatever was being offered."
Reached by phone earlier today, Barber revealed that he's both frustrated and hopeful about the impending move. Along with the landlord's unwillingness to discuss a scenario that would see Sonic Boom remain in its current location, the fact that Dollarama will ultimately replace the record store was especially disappointing for someone who "loved the location, the building, and the neighbourhood."
Although Barber describes the move as "less than ideal," he's quick to point out that it doesn't signify financial troubles for the store. "We're in the middle of our most successful year to date, and we've never had a down-year in sales," he explains. "I don't want it perceived that the store is struggling. We'll rise to the challenge."
Once renovations are complete, Sonic Boom will occupy an 11,000 square foot location on the Bathurst side of Honest Ed's, which will entail only a slight reduction in overall retail space (the store presently occupies a total of 12,500 sq. ft.). And those who enjoy Tim Oakley's signature window displays will also be happy to know that the new space features 60 feet of street-facing windows. "It's going to look like Sonic Boom," Barber promises.
In fact, to some degree, the owner feels lucky. Not only is the space at Honest Ed's the only one that could accommodate the store in the Annex, but he notes that "the Mirvish family has already proven to be quite supportive." While Sonic Boom will now operate on only one floor, there's every intention of continuing to do in-store concerts and other live events.
In other words, if you're a glass half-full type, today's news isn't really bad at all. In fact, fans of the record store will be happy to know that a Kensington Market location is also on the horizon. Look for a hefty selection of vinyl, vintage furniture and collectibles to be on offer when it opens sometime in late July.
Photo of what might be the future home of Sonic Boom by trebbble in the blogTO Flickr pool.
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This is, though, a negative story for Bloor Street in general: for its street life, for its cultural breadth. The Dollarama sounds like a short-term placeholder to keep the landowners in the black while they devise a long-term redevelopment solution. I wonder what the landlord's ultimate dream for the property would be. It's a question I'd ask them.
I'll keep shopping at Sonic Boom wherever they happen to be, though. Places like Sonic Boom are why I live in this city.
FYI: Both Sonic Boom and Honest Ed's appear in Scott Pilgrim (the comic) although Sonic Boom was not referred by name. Interestingly the scene where Scott Pilgrim and Knives Chau buying CD in the movie was shot at the actual place in Sonic Boom. (Honest Ed's only appeared in one scene in the background in the movie)
@radiomaru is Bryan Lee O'Malley twitter account. Give him a follow.
Seriously, what Dollarama sells is proabaly also sold by Honest Ed's already.
I meant to mention this in my first comment: Dollarama is definitely not an improvement over Sonic Boom. That whole corner of Bloor seems to be going down, what with the Bloor Cinema closing for the summer.
And yes, I agree, Dollarama being there is not good, and is very bad. I wish that the Silver Snail could be there instead.
wait..... did you say "quality products"?
I suppose if you're buying plastic cups, generic hand soap and colouring books for the kids then there's nothing to worry about.
Honest Ed's is probably in closer competition with Walmart, just because many of Ed's products are well above the $2 cap at dollarama. Thinks like a toaster, or ceramic dinner wear, or a throw rug, or a pillow..... basic household items are usually more than $2.
A&A's. Sam's, and soon HMV, also Tower records,not sure how big they got in the GTA
Nothing last forever
I'd argue against quality products, most of the stuff there is the same level of quality you can get at walmart, good for a couple of weeks to half a year, then it breaks - basically cheap junk you need to keep buying more of (I guess that's the business model).
My winter jacket, soccer cleats, socks and lunchbox all came from biway.
Winners (or Honest Ed's) is comparable these days - the dollarama is not.
as for the move, i was wondering what would be going in that giant vacancy at Ed's.
So over all I am glad that it's going survive and stay in the same area.
Overall though Dollarama on Bloor St & Bathurst? Kind of sucky. The weirdest thing is that they are putting in a cheap dollar store next to Honest Eds. If that is not a WTF? moment I don't know what is.
Anyway a record store survives in this city to overall very good news.
the building sonic boom occupies was either a BiWay, Woolco, or Bargain Harold's back in the day. BiWay if my memory serves me...
but, really - dollarama?! I remember the old bi-way there and it was just sad.
It would be nice to see the local annex folks band together and let it be known that dollarama is not welcome - like they did when starbucks tried to move into dooneys.
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Having said that, I don't think it was cool that Sonic Boom wasn't offered a chance to meet or beat the offer from the competing tenant. I am guessing the Landlord/owner may have other locations and may be currently dealing with Dollarama and is doing this to maintain its relationship with them, or hoping to lease future locations to them.
I was wondering what they did with all of that empty space at Honest Eds.. Be interesting to see how everything develops.
And though a "BlogTO boycott" certainly wouldn't kill Dollarama, the Annex is a neighbourhood that is very opinionated and passionate about the businesses that open there. Places like Taco Bell and Burger King didn't last long for that very reason. So I think Dollarama will survive for a few years, I don't see the locals shopping there very often, and it may end up being an unwise investment.
Dude, you are so not in touch.
That said, I'm a sucker for history. And Honest Ed's is certainly unique. So I'd actually hate to see it go. I love that stretch of Bloor St. and I love the Annex. And even though I never went in to Sonic Boom, I'm glad they're relocating instead of closing. They will improve Honest Ed's. Too bad about the Dollarama. Such a bland, generic addition to the neighborhood is disappointing.