Gary Worsley’s devotion to Cheap Thrills is something special. Having first encountered the Montréal record emporium back in the day while still a teenaged Skinny Puppy fan, over the years he’s graduated from regular customer to longtime employee to eventually taking the reins as the shop’s owner. But the affection Cheap Thrills inspires isn’t solely felt by its staff. Ascend the shop’s memorably lopsided staircase and you’ll find yourself amongst avid music (and used book) shoppers losing themselves in the remarkably well-curated array of noise, avant-garde rock and jazz, industrial, black metal, goth, new wave, hip-hop and more that’s elevated the store to institution-level status since opening way back in 1971. As rich as Cheap Thrills is musically, its downtown location far from the environs of more trendy Mile End, makes it a true destination, whether for university students taking a few moments off campus or office 9-to-5-ers seeking some solace on their lunch breaks.
