Toronto's Record Nook Sign Set to Shine Once Again

The store is a landmark in the city's musical and cultural history

Photo: Downtown Yonge BIA (via Facebook)

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Feb 7, 2020

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."

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