Tiny Record Shop has been a staple in the city for music lovers to buy their favourite vinyl for many years but after their brick and mortar shut down some people thought it closed for good. 

Thankfully, it didn't. In the words of the shop's owners, they didn't close down, they just got so (physically) tiny you can't even find them anymore!

On July 6th 2023, Tiny Record Shop took to Instagram to announce the end of their physical store. 

Thanking their community, customers, and friends they assured that this was not the end. 

Tiny Record Shop was one of only a few business ventures that Maude Fallon-Davense and Trevor Larocque have been a part of.

The original Tiny Record Shop at 777 Queen St. East. Photo by Matt Forsythe.

Starting out in the back gift store Token at 804 Queen St. East standing at 77 square feet, Tiny Record Shop came about due to Larocque's extensive record collection needing a bit of a clean out and a kind offer from a friend for some empty space they've been holding onto. 

A few years later they moved across the street to 777 Queen St. East for 4 years. 9 years in total with a physical store brought them many memories and many friends, including a visit by former Raptor Fred VanVleet, but at some point it all came to an end. 

The reason for closing down the physical store was not due to any extreme reason. They had a great business, good online presence, a kind landlord, a multitude of records that filled up the store, and great clientele. 

The former store at 804 Queen St. East in Riverside. Photo by Jesse Milns.

The reason for the change is heartwarming, it was for family. 

"I remember thinking, why not travel with my family?" says Larocque, "I had a window of opportunity and no other plans."

The pair kept discussing the more efficient ways they could run their business. Not having to pay rent would be one of the most significant costs gone, and they liked the idea of a work-from-home lifestyle.

The pair spent a year travelling with their two children in places like Italy, Japan, and South Korea.

"Félix and Eno (their two kids) said they didn't want me to go back to work after our vacation," admits Fallon-Davense. 

The owners in their original store back in 2014. Photo by Matt Forsythe.

"They loved this new low-stress mom who was working in a different capacity. They found stability in the fact that we were both home to be with them, drive them to activities and friends' houses."

The couple works 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, taking orders and request on a daily basis. Everything is done out of their basement. 

"We package and post all orders each week to make sure they get to everyone," says Larocque.

And although their family vacation is over, they are keeping business in the family. 

Félix, who is only 12 years old, is learning the ropes and getting paid to help package orders securely and safely. Precious cargo deserves precious care. Packaged with love and sentiment is a business model being passed down to the next generation of Tiny Record Shop workers.

Customers love Tiny Record Shop's collection of original pressings and records from the 80s and 90s that are hard to find. Putting their customers needs first is something they prioritize. 

"We receive messages every day saying 'you're our favourite record shop in the city, and it's crazy because we aren't even technically a 'shop' anymore," exlaims Larocque, "It means the world to us and we are glad we can bring that to our customers."