Sanity to close Toowoomba, Dalby and Warwick stores by April 2023

After three decades of being the go-to music retailer, four Sanity stores will close in the coming months across the Downs, leaving many out of work.

After four stores, hundreds of employees and more than three decades of service, Sanity will bid farewell to the Darling Downs in the coming months.

In a move that has rocked the nation’s music and media fans, Sanity owner Ray Itaoui announced all physical stores would close for the final time by the end of April.

“With our customers shifting to digital for their visual and music content consumption, and with diminishing physical content available to sell to our customer, it has made it impossible to continue with our physical stores,” Mr Itaoui, who purchased the company 13 years ago, said in a statement.

Sanity stores across Australia are set to close by the end of April as the company transitions to an online-only platform.

“Our online business – sanity.com.au – will continue to operate, and will service the many loyal customers the brand has continued to be dedicated to over the decades.

“Our priority right now is to ensure each of our team members knows exactly what this means for their career and employment future.”

Sanity has had a strong presence in Toowoomba for about 30 years, essentially since the business’s conception in 1992. Now, the music retailer has two stores, in Grand Central Shopping Centre and Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre, that are set to leave a hole in the Garden City.

Manager of Sanity in Toowoomba's Grand Central Shopping Centre, Christie Dodd. Picture: Sarah Petty

The Dalby Shoppingworld store has operated for about 15 years, while Warwick had a Sanity store about 20 years ago and left, but returned about five years ago to Rose City Shoppingworld.

Mr Itaoui told The Chronicle the hardest part was saying goodbye to the 20-odd employees across the region.

“Our online business is in Sydney, so it’s really sad (to farewell the employees),” he said.

“We have people that have been with us for so long … that’s the hardest part.”

Grand Central store manager Christie Dodd told The Chronicle in September 2022 that streaming services had not damaged the store’s popularity, with many still purchasing DVDs and CDs.

“Living in regional Australia, you go 10 minutes out from Toowoomba, internet and reception doesn’t tend to be great,” she said.

“It‘s the same when you’re driving, with Spotify and Apple subscriptions.”

Grand Central and Clifford Gardens declined to comment on the closures.