Sam the Record Man sign coming back to downtown in 2017
Posted March 8, 2017 7:53 am.
Last Updated March 8, 2017 12:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The iconic Sam the Record Man sign is coming back to downtown Toronto later this year, Ryerson University said Wednesday.
The school has chosen a company, Sunset Neon, to install the ‘spinning’ records atop 277 Victoria St., just east of the previous location on Yonge Street near Dundas Street.
“We’re very thankful to the City of Toronto and the Sniderman family for their ongoing support and patience. We are all looking forward to the signs lighting up Toronto later this year,” Ryerson president and vice-chancellor Mohamed Lachemi said in a statement.
The school also released an illustration of what the sign will look like once it’s installed on Victoria.
About a year ago, Ryerson said it was accepting bids to re-install the sign. The sign has been in storage since 2008. Last February, Ryerson said it was too early to estimate exactly when it will be installed. Now, the school said, it’s happening this year.
Ryerson has been responsible for preserving the sign and the university is paying all costs for the sign to go back up, including restoration and on-going maintenance.
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The family of Sam Sniderman, the ‘Sam’ in the rocord man, thanked customers and employees on Wednesday.
“On behalf of every person who remembers purchasing their first record at or who ever worked in a Sam the Record Man store, Jason and Bobby Sniderman, the sons of Sam Sniderman, want to sincerely thank Ryerson university and the City of Toronto for having fulfilled their commitment to reinstall the iconic ‘Sam the Record Man’ signs,” the family said.
They also thanked councillors Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell and Kristyn Wong-Tam, and city staffers John Livey, James Parakh and Stephanie Wai.
“And finally, we will always be grateful to Nicholas Jennings, the people of Toronto and to Canadian music artists from across the country who were outspoken and unyielding in their desire to have the signs installed in their original glory.
“We are certain that our father would be so pleased with the work that has and will be done and that these iconic symbols of our store and the music industry will be a lasting legacy…which we will share with him and the community … forever,” Jason and Bobby Sniderman said.
