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    Toronto Arts Academy

    3.0 (2 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    4 years ago

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    Long & McQuade - Entrance to brass instruments

    Long & McQuade

    3.9(78 reviews)
    5.0 kmDufferin Grove
    $$

    A couple of Wednesdays ago, I was in the Bloor-Ossington area. I had parked in front of this Long &…read moreMcQuade for a couple of hours. I like backstories. I saw a heritage sign on Long & McQuade's building. It used to be the Concord Tavern. This tavern was open from 1948 till 1983. Back in the day, it was the hip location for artists and music lovers. The Concord hosted a bunch of talented musicians, jam sessions, and cool performances. Ronnie Hawkins and his band, which was later shortened to The Band, performed up to seven days a week at the Concord during the 1960's. Eventually, The Band joined Bob Dylan as his backing band and later became stars themselves. Pretty cool! Jack Long, a member of the Jack Long Trio, was the founder of Long & McQuade Musical Instruments. To date, it is Canada's biggest music store. He started his business in a small Toronto house on Carlton Street in 1956 and expanded to more than 90 locations in all ten provinces. Through a bit of research, I found out that Long had passed on September 4, 2024 at the age of 95. He was a jazz lover. He played the trumpet. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2014. Drummer Jack McQuade of this trio, who left the business in 1965, passed away in the 1970's from cancer. I don't know who the third member of this trio was. When the Concord Tavern closed down in 1983, an Irish pub took over, but eventually closed down. Long & McQuade's moved into its current location in 1988. It's fitting that a music store gave this site a new musical life. It has a massive assortment of instruments, sheet music, accessories, and more. I looked through the window. I didn't go in because I'd be there for hours and would likely buy an instrument to attempt to play. I grew up with a lot of music. We had a local music store in the Beaches that is now gone for good. My parents got me a ukelele in grade 3. When I was in grade 9, they got me a clarinet and I played it all through high school. This massive music store is my kryptonite. From guitars, to trombones, the selection of musical instruments looked impressive. I saw a girl lugging her trumpet into the store. My guess was that she was there for lessons. I don't miss hours of practicing various musical instruments growing up and likely annoying everyone who lived in my apartment building. I'm sure that they are stronger for it... haha! This store does have a few parking spots, but they are limited. It's probably best to parking on the street and shell out of parking. Maybe when I strike it rich, you'll see me getting an electric guitar from this store. I imagine annoying my neighbours in Markham playing it. (376)

    Monday morning just after opening, Bloor location. Drum department, grey haired bearded man was…read moretotally useless in completing my purchase. I had gift cards I wanted to use but he had trouble with the tap machine. He sat there without a solution because he had no critical thinking skills. So I had to suggest using a different machine. It worked but he cashed me out without using my gift cards. I asked if I could use them and he just said " Not now you can't" I was upset and got half way up the stairs then turned around and said I want a refund and we'll do this again with the gift cards. Again, a solution I had to come up with. Thankfully Isaiah stepped in and said he would handle it. if you go to the drum department, bypass the useless twit with the grey hair and beard. 3 stars all going to Isaiah.

    Photos
    Long & McQuade - Guitar straps

    Guitar straps

    Long & McQuade - These doors are not the main entrance.

    These doors are not the main entrance.

    Long & McQuade - Floorboards

    See all

    Floorboards

    Toronto Arts Academy - musicalinstrumentsandteachers - Updated July 2026

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