What's happened to your record stores?

[Rodie]

I don't know if anyone caught the SNL that mentioned Record Store day but Seth Meyers made a quip something to the effect of "I need to get to my record store - oh wait it's a Jamba Juice." It got me thinking how much of a cliche it is that one of the record stores I used to go to is a Starbucks now. I was just curious to hear what's become of everyone elses record stores. Mine have become:

Starbucks
Cell phone store
Industrial/goth clothing store
Bonefish Grill
Dollar Store
Princess Diana Memorial

That's all I can think of for now.

[Dorothy Wood]

The big chains all closed, one's a Forever 21 and I think the other one is still vacant.

A few independent places have stuck around and seem to be surviving and even thriving.

http://www.reckless.com/

http://www.permanentrecordschicago.com/news.php



uh, but yeah, Forever 21 I guess. I was hoping they'd turn the other one into a Trader Joe's. Hmm, looks like it's partly a realty office now, and mostly empty. Boring!

[The Notorious LOL]

the best known local chain here is thriving, because it also buys and sells used CDs, vinyl, DVDs, and video games.

[Drederick Tatum]

in my neighbourhood there's possibly a dozen record stores. I have no idea how they survive. the majority are just the owner's vanity project.

[Caribou]

All the small independent recordstores I know still exist. A lot have closed in other cities, but in Rotterdam they're still there.

Maybe because we only have 2 chain-type recordstores over here, and they pretty much only sell chart crap, so everyone that likes any kind of 'alternative' music has to go to the independent stores.

[Tone Capone]

The one back home is still going strong but I think it's mostly because they also sell Bongs.

[NicRN77]

Seems the independent ones around here are still surviving too....Newbury Comics being the biggest with about 25 or so stores across New England.

[TAL]

Nothing,

Both are still here.

[Junker]

The old one where I used to buy my Beastie Boys albums closed a long time ago. And now the only record stores I know are multi functional. Sell DVD's, comic books, books, electronics, etc.

The ones that were dedicated to music dont exist anymore.

[MC Moot]

Same (http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x265/mcmoot/recordland1.jpg)
as it (http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x265/mcmoot/recordland3.jpg)
ever (http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x265/mcmoot/recordland2.jpg)
was... (http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x265/mcmoot/recordland4.jpg)

[hpdrifter]

One is an Urban Outfitters. :(

But when it died another rose to take it's place (just not in the same space) and I love it.

Silver Platters (http://www.silverplatters.com/)

We've also got Easy Street Records, Sonic Boom and one more I can't think of at the moment.

[Rodie]

Damn you guys suck :p. I also remembered that one of the one's near me became an ABC Liquors.

[kaiser soze]

The ones I frequented in Buffalo are mostly gone - These were independents which also carried vinyl and one that never let me down when I requested a Ninjatune release. Loved that place - you could buy a sonic youth poster or Mr. Scruff record, top notch variety.

[JoLovesMCA]

Funny you guys are discussing this because the other day my friend and I were out shopping and I wanted to buy some CD's and thought the mall had it least one record store left but no it has been replaced by digital stores with gadgets for phones and ipods etc... All seemed weird to me still. Anyway Best Buy is my life-saver. I don't see it closing down since it sells computers and other technology stuff. Still sucks. I like going in and browsing my music. Target is ok and Walmart maybe sometimes but all of their CD's are edited. Too sad.

[NicRN77]

Funny you guys are discussing this because the other day my friend and I were out shopping and I wanted to buy some CD's and thought the mall had it least one record store left but no it has been replaced by digital stores with gadgets for phones and ipods etc... All seemed weird to me still. Anyway Best Buy is my life-saver. I don't see it closing down since it sells computers and other technology stuff. Still sucks. I like going in and browsing my music. Target is ok and Walmart maybe sometimes but all of their CD's are edited. Too sad.

but even Best Buy has limited CD's in stock.

[Rodie]

BestBuy's gotten better... I often find their selection to be better than so called "specialty" stores like FYE. And of course prices are like 70% of what they are at FYE.

[GreenEarthAl]

in Buffalo one got taken over by the coffee shop next door. One is abandoned with a leasing sign on it. One I'm not sure if it's a tatoo shop or musicians shop or what. At least there's still Record Theater and a few old indies.

[kaiser soze]

I feel your pain GEA - New World and Home of the Hits - both walking distance from my old place - would spend a good hour or so in both on the weekends regularly

[Guy Incognito]

where i live, the shops of large chains have disapeared but the independent shop thats been there for eons is still going strong, they dont have too much in but they will always get it in for you really quickly if you order so i guess thats the secret of their success

[b i o n i c]

a potpourri / knick nack store and an "art" gallery

[yeahwho]

Well one of the record stores I went to is now called "Cassette Cozy" some sort of small reel to reel type of tape they say can fit in a shirt pocket, supposed to play them in a shoe box sized machine. We'll see.

The other is called "The Eight Track Shack" which seems targeted towards rich people who drive higher end sports cars.

[GreenEarthAl]

I feel your pain GEA - New World and Home of the Hits - both walking distance from my old place - would spend a good hour or so in both on the weekends regularly

You're like my neighbor or something?