Not unlike the Sam the Record Man sign, another iconic piece of Toronto music retail lore will soon shine in the city again.
The double-sided sign from legendary music store the Record Nook was recently acquired by the city's Downtown Yonge BIA after being found for sale at a West end antique store earlier this year.
It joins a curated collection of signage that will soon be displayed by Neon Museum Toronto, an organization planning to install the signs in pop-up spaces and laneways, in addition to a permanent location.
The Record Nook, which opened at 1400 Bathurst St. in 1968, was owned and operated by Jamaican-born artists Jackie Mittoo, Lord Tanamo and Karl Mullings.
Specializing in selling vinyl albums and singles from storied Jamaican label Studio One, the Record Nook soon became a hub for musical discussion and discovery in the community.
"The discovery and preservation of the Record Nook sign is a big win for cultural heritage in the city," Downtown Yonge chief operating officer and executive director Mark Garner said in a statement. "Like the iconic Sam the Record Man sign, it is an important relic from our past and a priceless artifact — a reminder of the major role Toronto played in reggae music history and Jamaican culture."
The double-sided sign from legendary music store the Record Nook was recently acquired by the city's Downtown Yonge BIA after being found for sale at a West end antique store earlier this year.
It joins a curated collection of signage that will soon be displayed by Neon Museum Toronto, an organization planning to install the signs in pop-up spaces and laneways, in addition to a permanent location.
The Record Nook, which opened at 1400 Bathurst St. in 1968, was owned and operated by Jamaican-born artists Jackie Mittoo, Lord Tanamo and Karl Mullings.
Specializing in selling vinyl albums and singles from storied Jamaican label Studio One, the Record Nook soon became a hub for musical discussion and discovery in the community.
"The discovery and preservation of the Record Nook sign is a big win for cultural heritage in the city," Downtown Yonge chief operating officer and executive director Mark Garner said in a statement. "Like the iconic Sam the Record Man sign, it is an important relic from our past and a priceless artifact — a reminder of the major role Toronto played in reggae music history and Jamaican culture."