After six decades in the Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal music scenes, Steve's Music is shutting down almost all of its stores.

According to CBC.ca reports, the chain has announced it will liquidate inventory at all five of its locations, effectively closing every store except for the one on rue Sainte-Catherine in Montreal.

The news comes as a shock to customers and artists alike.

"This is terrible news for me," said percussionist Jon Granda, who was among those visiting the Ottawa outlet on Sunday.

"It's terrible news for the music community in Ottawa." Granda noted that there aren't many music store options near downtown, making Steve's Music a vital resource for local musicians.

Frédéric Laforge, another customer visiting the Catherine Street store, expressed his concerns about the impact of the closures on small businesses and independent artists.

"The world of artists is already difficult," he said.

"We're removing more support to them." The closure is seen as a loss not just for customers but also for the music community at large.