Resolute Records is a literal hidden gem and is most likely the smallest record store in Toronto. Only counting shopping space, it's between 70 to 75 square feet.

The store was founded by Jovahn Sandhu as an online-business in December 2020.

Anyone who starts a record store is obviously a big music fan, but Sandhu worked as a chef for many years before he became a small business owner.

When I went to visit Resolute Records, of course the first thing I took in was the size. It definitely makes browsing through record crates easier. As Sandhu puts it, you can go from A to Z in about 15 minutes.

Sandhu started with about 40 to 50 records, available for pick up or delivery by him.

By April 2021, that had grown to just shy of 1,300 records, and he used the money he saved for a space of his own. He's also still doing delivery, but he's got a courier for that.

The location was previously occupied by a jewellery store, whose owner offered the space to sublet on Facebook Marketplace. Sandhu jumped on the opportunity and from there got a full new lease from the landlord.

"I started right away with a fresh lease," Sandhu told me. "I have to be honest with you, I lucked out."

Resolute's focus is on "99 per cent" new vinyl, something that Sandhu says makes the store one of the only in the city with that kind of catalogue, aside from Pop Music in East Chinatown.

While there is a mix of everything, the genres at Resolute are mainly rock, alternative and indie albums.

Sandhu grew up in the 90s in the era of grunge and post-grunge, and so some of his favourite bands are Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Radiohead and Nirvana.

When I put him on the spot, he named his favourite albums in the store: Queens of the Stone Age's In Times New Roman…, The Smile's A Light for Attracting Attention, Sufjan Stevens' Javelin as well as the reissues of R.E.M.'s Up and Neil Young's Live at Carnegie Hall 1970.

As for what lies ahead, Sandhu didn't rule out looking for a new space in the new year.

"The plan I think for 2024 is to feel this out for at least the first half of it and go from there," he says. "Because if the retail side of it starts picking up a lot, then it makes sense to move to... more stuff and a bigger selection."

Resolute Records is located at 658 Queen St W.