The other side of my record store is closing
Every once and a while from around the country we see a story about a beloved record store closing.Yet we also see stories about how Vinyl is on a big upswing with KIDS even buying vinyl.
So I thought I would bring you a little different slant on the OH MY THE RECORD STORE IS CLOSING STORY.
Today the wife wanted to trek into Salem so she could go to her favorite used book store and cash in some of her credit and stock up on reading material for the 3-4 weeks she is going to be stuck on our couch recovering from foot surgery. I figured it is to hot to caulk and paint on the house in the mid day sun so I suggested stopping by Ranch Records the local awesome used record and CD and poster and stuff shop.
Well we do the book store ( found a book on Britney Spears wedged between two books on Frank Sinatra some how that seamed so wrong) then headed downtown Salem for the record store....... BUT OH SHIT what's this it's usually lit up like a mall and it's dark and in the little Saturn I can't get turned around far enough to read the damn sign on the window. CRAP! oh wait it says MOVING and it has the new address just 2 blocks NE.
OK panic over we circle the block and I spot the new location through the bus mall we park around the corner. She heads to a close by book shop I head to the Record store.
OH DANG obviously not open yet. I ask a guy dumping a bucket of electrical stuff out on the sidewalk if the old location is open. ALAS neither will be open until the new store opens on the 1st. I poke my head in, turns out they plain ran out of room for the Records in the old store so they moved in order to add more racks and get away from the milk crates on the floor they were making us old farts dig through to find the deals.
I head over to the Bookstore to collect up the wife when this confronts me.
Sorry for the photo quality but I had very little time to whip out the cell phone camera and snap a picture before they would have been across the street and on me. Take close note of the dude with the red quot;pantsquot; HAIR it must have been an easy 18quot; in diameter LOL. Vinyl on the move.
When I got into the Bookstore about 6 guys followed me in.The leader asked if the owner of the bookstore had any more boxes they could grab. It was obvious they were helping pack up Ranch Records from the old store and wheeling them the two blocks tot he new store. They hauled out enough boxes to move 2000 LP's and were asking how late the bookstore was open so they could come back and get a few more loads of boxes.
If the wife hadn't been with me I would have offered to help for a couple trips HEY you never know can't have hurt to helped out the owner of the best record store in town LOL.
I talked to one of the guys moving when he noticed my Tee shirt.
quot;Traveling at 33rpm in an Ipod Worldquot; (yes I know the speed is wrong it's not a custom shirt)
Anyway he said they hope to be up and running full tilt by the weekend. NOW to sneak away from the poor couch bound wife this weekend and check out the new shop.
This combined with the scouting report I gathered about a new small shop working towards opening this fall and VINYL looks good in Salem OR.
By the way the Salem location of Ranch Records is the main store they also have delightful smaller stores hidden away in Mcminnville and Bend OR.
OK Mark just made me read his thread.....what's this about leaving me the very first week-end after my surgery....for a freaking gquot;damn record store. Has he no heart???? but that's OK, I'll have 6 weeks to reduce his album collection...haha the last laugh is mine
you go girl
Dude, you are so busted.
Great story!
I noticed today that the front page of a local paper featured a story about vinyl's comeback. Here's a link to the article:
News/Ottawa...76081-sun.html
We're pretty well served for a city of less than a million people.
Thanks Mark , I never knew there was a store in Salem for old records. I too am looking at surgery end of next month. I will need a few albums to carry me through the rehab. Do you have a link or the address ?
Not a bad photo for a camera phone! Best wishes on Mrs. W's surgery!
Originally Posted by jamesrpmThanks Mark , I never knew there was a store in Salem for old records. I too am looking at surgery end of next month. I will need a few albums to carry me through the rehab. Do you have a link or the address ?
James don't think Ranch has a web site last time I was in they were still trcking sales on a notebook (a spiral bound notebook LOL)
But I can how ever fix you up with the address it's now 247 High St. Right across from the Marion county Court house on the buss mall. West side of the Street. Look for a Purple Neon Sign.
I haven't been to Ranch for awhile...guess I need to check 'em out soon. Ofcourse I will be in Salem Tuesday for training...never convenient is it!
Thanks ! I'll be in the valley the weekend of the 22nd for Albany hot air balloon show, I'll run up and check them out.
hippie towns like salem and seattle will probably never run out of old record stores
my first hempfest up here in seattle was a freakin' shock to me ever seen a bonfire made of weed? not that i got excited over it...since i never even smoked a cigarette in my life, but it was quite a sight!
Glad to hear your vinyl buying oppurtunities are on the rise in Salem. Here in Casper,wy we have one store that carries vinyl and I usually own more than the have for sale but I knw the owner has a 20k vinyl collect. Every once in a while he will put some out from his collection. I was lucky (maybe ) yesterday and purchased around 50-60 lps at an auction for $12. Hopefully I got some keepers, I only got to look thru a small portion of them before they went on the block but for the price of less than one cd I figured I could roll the dice.
Originally Posted by gogofasthippie towns like salem and seattle will probably never run out of old record stores
my first hempfest up here in seattle was a freakin' shock to me ever seen a bonfire made of weed? not that i got excited over it...since i never even smoked a cigarette in my life, but it was quite a sight!Hippie town???? I think you are thinking about Eugene. Salem I would describe as a Government town only time it seams like any one has any money on the first of month.
Thanks for the report and great action picture of the record dudes with records on the move. I bet red pants guy gets some good double-takes from the old time locals.
Just a little follow up , I did stop at the shop , great store , nice people. I bought 2 Alan Parson albums and 2 Vanilla Fudge albums I'd been looking for. I'll be making it one of my regular quot; go to the valleyquot; stops.
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