Record Store

I was in downtown Methuen today. I was going to the music store right by the clock, but as I passed by the used record store I heard Procol Harem playing inside. That settled it. After the guitar shop, I was going record shopping.

I don’t know what the deal is with this place, but at a glance it seems to be the definition of a dying industry. Times look seriously hard. The shop itself is tiny tiny tiny, but that’s okay. When I walked inside, the lights were off. The guy working turned them on so I could browse the vinyl. They didn’t have any Rush that I don’t already have. They didn’t have Dark Side of the Moon. They did have an old copy of Full House by Fairport Convention (Richard Thompson, yes. Sandy Denny, no) so I picked it up.

I’ve only been inside of this place once before but I knew from experience that it’s a cash only business. How they survive in 2014 without taking credit I will never know. The record was $10 (probably $7 too much, but it’s the season of giving and generosity, right?) and I paid with a $20. He gave me change out of his wallet. Yup. He asked if I wanted a bag. I did. He put my new record into a Market Basket plastic bag.

Something tells me that times are tough for this particular small business.

Originally published at robj2112.wordpress.com on December 6, 2014.