Robson Street, Metrotown, and Coquitlam Centre outlets among 102 hmv stores that will close

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      Another set of brick-and-mortar music stores will bite the dust.

      That's because hmv Canada has announced that it's shutting down all 102 outlets in Canada over the next few weeks.

      It came after the company filed for bankruptcy protection in Ontario.

      The U.K.-based hmv sold its Canadian stores to a turnaround company, Hilco U.K., in 2011.

      The name hmv refers to a Frances Barraud painting, His Master's Voice, which you can see above.

      The Canadian company owns stores on Robson Street and at Metrotown and Coquitlam Centre in Metro Vancouver.

      It's the latest chain to go under, following the demise of Sam the Record Man and A&B Sound.

      The Robson Street store opened on December 3, 2014, during a period of expansion.

      Lights performed inside the 3,100-square-foot outlet to celebrate the local launch.

      This came after a larger store at the corner of Robson and Burrard had been closed three years earlier.

      Lights played at the launch of the Vancouver hmv store in December 2014.

      The president of hmv Canada, Nick Williams, told the Straight in 2014 that the company was doing $240 million in annual sales. The Robson Street store was its ninth B.C. location.

      He was hoping hmv could ride the growing appeal of vinyl to great heights.

      “I maintain that there are still a lot of people who collect books, music, and film who want the physical form,” Williams said in 2014. “It’s still an important part of people’s lives.”

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