Record Theatre Closing Last Location: A staple for music-lovers in Western New York for four decades is closing its last remaining location. The Record Theatre store on Main and Lafayette in Buffalo will close by the end of August. The store manager says the original owner passed away and now everything has been put into a trust for the family. Employees found out Monday and say it’s out of their control. “I’ve been going to this store since it opened up in the ’70s,” said customer John Stuhr. “Now I’m just really sad, it’s the last of the big record stores in this area.”
End of an era: Last Record Theatre location to close its doors: Record Theatre, once a chain of six record stores and the focal point of the Western New York music scene and a mecca for anyone looking for an album – or a cassette a CD or even an 8-track tape long ago – is going out of business. The news that the flagship Main Street location of the area’s longest-serving independent record store would close its doors for good in coming weeks comes three months after the death of its founder Lenny Silver and the closing of its other remaining store in the University Plaza. “I hoped this day would never come,” Mike Pierce, chief financial officer of parent company Transcontinent Record Sales said…
Vinyl record sales increase for 11 consecutive years, despite popularity of digital downloads: Paul LePree is a Guestroom Records regular. He owns thousands of records. “There is a sense of nostalgia tied into them, but I also like the tactile, physical product and to look at the art,” he said. “They make me happy.” The record resurgence in Louisville and around the world comes as no surprise to him or to any other music lover in the store. “They maintain some air of collectability, and their value stays pretty high on them,” Guestroom Records owner Travis Searle said. “They sound better to me…”
Eel Pie Records independent vinyl store is opening in Church Street, Twickenham: An independent vinyl record and CD shop is opening in Twickenham this week, bringing music-lovers a mix of legendary tunes. Co-founders Kevin Jones and Phil Penman, both from Twickenham, have transformed the former food hall in Church Street into their long-awaited business venture, Eel Pie Records, launching on June 8. The old-school music shop will feature a wide range of brand new vinyl, a growing selection of high quality second-hand vinyl, a themed selection of African and French CDs and a bargain bin. Mr Jones said: “We have been planning for some time now and spent ages looking for the right location and timing.”We got the keys three weeks ago and we are really excited that despite the hard work and rush to be finally launching tomorrow.”
