Music consumers may well be tantalized by the imminent opening (April) of Sunrise Records across Canada. But the Ancaster-based firm seems to be playing a careful game even as it takes over leases for 70 HMV locations in the country’s malls. A news release as to where the stores might be located is light in details — Burnaby, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Square One in Mississauga, St Bruno, Quebec and the West Edmonton Mall. The news release says other locations will be known when “more details are finalized.” A clue to the retailer’s strategy may be gained by checking the location of its nine current stores. Only one is in Toronto and that’s at Cloverdale Mall in Etobicoke. Sunrise president Doug Putnam has made it a point to say all his stores make money. Perhaps the rent in places like the Cloverdale Mall is part of that plan for the youthful businessman. He is also the head of a long-time family firm, Everest Toys. It shares offices with Sunrise Records at 65 Bittern Street off Hwy 53 on the road to Brantford. So the question seems quite open as to whether consumers will see a Sunrise Record store in expensive-to-rent downtown or midtown Toronto.
