Huge Ontario music store known for being largest in Canada closing after 57 years

It's the end of an era for an enormous music store just north of Toronto, as local institution Cosmo Music has announced its impending closure after almost six decades in business.

The Richmond Hill establishment —famously known as Canada's single-largest music store — announced on Wednesday that it would close its doors after 57 years.

In a press release, the ownership called the "difficult decision" a product of "significant challenges faced by the company after the COVID-19 pandemic, despite major technological investments and efforts to adapt to a changing market."

"We are deeply grateful to our dedicated team, loyal customers, brand partners, and the music community that has supported us throughout these incredible years," said the Hebert family, owners of Cosmo Music.

"It's been a privilege to serve as a hub for musicians and music lovers alike."

"Cosmo Music has always been more than just a store," the Hebert family statement continued. 

"It has been a space where musicians found inspiration, created connections, and shared their passion. We're proud of what we've built over the decades and will always cherish the memories made with our community."

Established in 1966 as Cosmo Guitars, the fledgling business started out as an import operation before owner Tom Hebert expanded with a retail store in what is now Toronto's Downsview neighbourhood in 1968.

The business kept expanding, and within five years of that import business launching, Cosmo Music required an even larger footprint, relocating operations to Richmond Hill in 1971 — where it would maintain a presence for the next 54 years.

Cosmo would later move to a larger Yonge Street location in 1985, before expanding again into its current superstore format in 2018

Cosmo Music has not shared a closure date as of Wednesday's announcement, and plans to keep its retail store at 10 Via Renzo Drive open "for a limited time" to sell off inventory.

A final sale will be held, with a closing date to be determined in the near future.

While this will be the end of Cosmo Music, its Richmond Hill site is set to live on as Canada's largest music store. National music retailer Long & McQuade is set to take over Cosmo Music's current location, with further details of this deal to be announced at a later date.