Hobo Cannabis taking over Compact Music Centretown location as record store downsizes
Posted Feb 27, 2020 09:49:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Marijuana is following music at one centretown business location, as Compact Music closes one of its long-time stores.
Ian Boyd and his brother James have been selling records in Ottawa for more than 40 years — 23 of those with Compact Music in The Glebe and 17 in their downtown and Centretown locations.
The 206 Bank Street retail space has belonged to Compact for the last seven years, and Ian Boyd, 62, says he's been getting ready to downsize to just one store simply because he's getting older.
He had recently given his landlord notice that the business would be leaving on June 30, but then received a notice from the landlord on February 5 that he needed to be out of the building in 90 days.
Although it was a surprise, Boyd says they'll be ready to leave when May 5 rolls around.
“James will be working here in The Glebe and we'll see how long he and I can get along,” says Boyd with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Hobo Cannabis is expanding, with locations already in the ByWard Market and Nepean.
It's part of the company's plan to own 12 stores throughout Ontario. Hobo also has locations under construction in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton, in Alberta.
