Play De Record bids goodbye to Yonge Street

Play De Record is leaving Yonge St., though thankfully not Toronto. The retail institution, which has called the city's main artery home for a quarter century, is relocating to Spadina and College as of March 1st.

It's not exactly surprising news. Yonge St. is in the midst of a massive transformation, one that's witnessing the progressive loss of mom and pop retail in favour of sprawling, street-level box stores at the base of new condo developments. While Play De Record isn't being forced out by development, the change of scenery makes sense.

This area of Yonge St. was once, of course, a mecca for music fans. 10 years ago, Sam the Record Man was just a stone's throw away from Play De Record. And while the shop has always been something of a destination spot thanks to its selection of hip hop and dance records, the touristy nature of its existing location isn't exactly ideal.

The new space at 411 Spadina Ave., on the other hand, seems well located to help the shop capitalize on vinyl's resurgence. It's immediately east of Kensington Market, and certainly close enough to Sonic Boom for record shoppers on the hunt for something elusive to pay a visit to both stores.

As for Yonge St., it loses another bit of character. But we're getting very used to this by now.

Photo by Ryan Bolton.