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A beloved fixture of Montréal's music scene is preparing to close its final storefront, bringing an end to more than six decades of musical history.
Steve's Music Store has announced on their website that it will permanently close its last remaining location on Sainte-Catherine Street, marking the end of an era for generations of musicians.
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According to a report by the CBC, the original store—founded in 1965 by Steve Kirman—opened in Old Montréal, selling musical instruments and equipment before expanding over the years with additional locations across Quebec and Ontario, including Toronto and Ottawa.
After Steve Kirman's death in 2012, his son, Michael Kirman, took over the family business, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year.
Is Steve's Montreal still operating?
A closing date for the Sainte-Catherine Street store has not yet been announced.
Why is Steve's music closing?
According to the report, the company had already begun scaling back operations earlier this year, closing several stores in Quebec and Ontario.
The closing has been attributed to several factors, including the post-Covid world and the changing economy.
The company says more information about liquidation sales, outstanding special orders, repairs and rentals will be shared in the coming days.
Find the full statement on the Steve’s Music Store website below:
Dear friends,
This is a difficult and sad messages and I am sorry that we have to write it. My late father and founder “Mr. Steve” opened the doors in May 1965, at 18 years old with the dream of having his own business. With hard work, dedication and having a keen eye for hiring some of the industries best, Steve’s became the go-to place for aspiring musicians, well-known artists, and those with genuine interest. The years of mentorship and old school salesmanship built Steve’s into one of the country’s premier destination music stores.
We had just celebrated our 60th anniversary, with our stores in Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa, having seen generations of clients’ parents to children to grandchildren. We were looking forward to seeing the next generation be inspired. Unfortunately, due to several factors, including the post-Covid world and the changing economy, we made the difficult decision to close and restructure the business.
After decades of laughter, late-night conversations, and the hum of instruments being tried for the very first time, Steve’s Music Store will be closing its doors. We didn’t just sell guitars, drums, keyboards, or sheet music. We witnessed dreams' beginning. We saw shy kids strum their first chord and walk out with a spark in their eyes. We watched seasoned musicians find the perfect tone they’d been chasing for years. We shared stories, advice, jokes, and sometimes even tears. You weren’t just customers—you were part of our family.
The decision to close comes with a heavy heart, but also with overwhelming gratitude. Thank you for trusting us with your musical journeys. Thank you for letting our store be a place where creativity lived, where inspiration struck, and where community thrived.
In the coming days, we will share details about final sales, outstanding special orders, repairs, and rentals. Our hopes and desires are to make this transition as smooth as possible for everyone.
Even though the storefront will close, the memories won’t. The music you created, the moments you shared, and the energy you brought into our space will stay with us forever.
From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for making Steve’s Music Store a home.
With love and gratitude,
Mike K and the entire Steve’s Music family current and past.
For more information about the CBC article, click here.
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