R.I.P. Sam 'the Record Man' Sniderman (1920 - 2012)

Sam Sniderman, founder of the Sam the Record Man chain of stores — still so memorable for its flagship location near Yonge and Gould streets in Toronto — has died at the age of 92. Opened in 1959, the store with the massive neon records was a fixture on the street until 2007. An October memorial service will be announced shortly....

Mr. Sniderman a Canadian entrepreneur best known as the founder of Sam the Record Man, the Canadian record store chain. Sniderman was also a major promoter of Canadian music which including involvement in pushing for the Canadian content broadcast regulations and creating the Juno Awards.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, he went to Harbord Collegiate Institute and started selling records in his brother Sidney's store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service, in 1937. In 1959 he opened a second store at his Yonge Street location in Toronto. In 1969, he started franchising the store.

He retired in 2000 and turned over ownership of the business to his sons, Bobby and Jason, and Sid's daughters Lana and Arna. The flagship Toronto store that bore his name closed in 2007 and its distinctive façade was declared a heritage site by the city.

Following the closure, Sniderman expressed his support for Ryerson University's bid to expropriate the Yonge Street property if his children and nieces failed to negotiate a deal to sell the property to the university. In the end, Ryerson reached a deal to purchase the property from the family.