HMV

As a long time music collector, I always loved my trips to the CD /​record store. I was always excited about what I might find, maybe a new artist or a new release I wasn’t expecting. Going to the record store was an event for me. Once digital music kicked in and the fun was gone. The record /​cd shop is becoming extinct. The stores started shrinking first and now closing locations. As a long time HMV fan, I knew everything was going downhill when they canned the buy 10 and get one free program about 20 years ago.
I was in here the other day and It was really sad. At the front of the store, they have books on display. Step further in and you find two rows of toys. Keep looking, oh there’s the candy by the coffee mugs. If you need a t-​shirt, they have that too. I get that the business is trying to survive and sell what they can but they have practically no CD back catalogue. The DVD selection is also very limited. I’m not coming here to by junk and gadgets — I want CD’s and they have nothing except the latest top 40 hits.
So sad…
Note — this store charges higher prices compared to the main Younge /​Dundas store but not a surprise given its location in the Financial district.
BK

Went to go buy the new Hey Rosetta album today. You know, support a good Canadian band. Apparently they had a whole ten copies, but are now sold out (three days after it came out no less). I am not to worry though, they have some new ones coming in over the next couple of weeks. I suppose I could wait a couple of weeks or I could (legally) download it from the comfort of my living room in 10 minutes. Why are the HMVs and Blockbusters of the world in such dire financial straits? I wonder.

Personally, I find the music selection of this particular HMV to be limiting. They have a lot of new releases and they do their best to provide as much Canadian content as possible. However, half of this store is dedicated to DVDs, Blue-​rays and videogames.
While I do prefer independent stores over chains, I do like HMV for their sales like 2 for $ 20 or 2 for $ 25 on their cds and dvds. This is how my movie collection has grown over the last few months.
They also have a small book section which you can find good deals. They sell rock biographies, cult classic novels, comedy and rock photography books. If this is your bag, you can find every Twilight and wannabe vampire novels too.
Plus, they’ve got accessories like headphones and even yoga mats, in case you need one.
While this HMV is smaller compared to the bigger stores near the Eaton Centre, a lot of musicians perform at the nearby Waterfall Stage, and many do an autograph signing at this store. If there’s a musician you like, it might be worth your while to come here and check them out.