For the first time in nearly a decade, the iconic Sam the Record sign will again lit up in downtown Toronto.
Ryerson University, which has owned the iconic spinning discs since Sam's closed in 2007, will be lit in their new position above Yonge-Dundas Square on Friday night. The refurbished sign will stay lit up through January 3.
The lights will then be turned off ahead of a lighting ceremony the following week.
After several months of restoration by Sunset Neon, installation of the sign has been underway at the top of 277 Victoria St for a few weeks and the lights were tested earlier this week
SOS: Save Our Sam the Record Man Sign/Facebook
Some Torontonians have complained the sign isn't quite as they remember it.
In case you can’t tell, the #SamTheRecordMan discs are spinning. This is the biggest piece of cow manure ever built. Thanks for nothing Ryerson. pic.twitter.com/06nTI41O9M
— Pedro Marques (@MetroManTO) December 5, 2017
Centre lines are hard. #SamTheRecordMan pic.twitter.com/pquYopbsEg
— Joshua Hind (@joshuahind) December 5, 2017
The first spinning disc was mounted at Sam the Record Man's Yonge St and Gould St in 1969. A second was added in 1987.
Sam's Yonge St store closed in 2007 and its sign was lit up for the final time in its original location during Nuit Blanche, 2008.