Baltimore, MD | True Vine owner says he is being forced out by Golden West: The True Vine Record Shop, a Hampden-based record store that has been recognized as one of the nation’s best for its eclectic offerings and shelf space for experimental genres, says it is being forced out of its Hickory Avenue storefront by an unlikely foe: the Golden West Cafe, a funky Tex-Mex restaurant around the corner, on W. 36th Street. True Vine posted the news on its Instagram account Sunday, saying the popular Hampden eatery bought the shop’s sublet lease and plans to use the space as part of an expansion. As Baltimore Fishbowl reported last month, Golden West has taken on a new investor to start a vegan-focused bakery and open other Golden West locations, as well as expand its current footprint to include an events room and a space for live performances. “We cannot stay because golden west’s new investors do not find us to be a financially lucrative business compared to what they envision as financially lucrative, which is an extension of golden west,” the post from True Vine said.
Columbus, OH | Craft & Vinyl offers records, beer, live music in one-stop shop: At Craft & Vinyl, the name says it all. After only three months in business at 1806 W. Fifth Ave., Columbus, between Grandview Heights and Upper Arlington, the store is making a splash as a haven for fans of records, craft-beer aficionados and songwriters. “It’s built to look like an art gallery,” said owner Troy Stacy. This description holds true at the vibrant new shop. Upon entering Craft & Vinyl, one sees a record store that pays homage to the days of classic rock and metal. The walls are crowded with concert posters — all of which are for sale — designed by renowned poster artist Mike Martin. The record shelves are stocked with the likes of everything from Iron Maiden to Jimi Hendrix. Customers also are greeted by a bar that boasts local craft-beer selections and that feels conducive to the environment Stacy seeks to promote.
Harrisburg, PA | Mr. Mike’s Record Store going out of business: The end of an era is approaching for a downtown Harrisburg record shop. Mr. Mike’s Record Store will be closing its doors after nearly 33 years. Michael Albert opened his business on South Third Street in 1986. Over the years, the shop specialized in R&B and rap, but Albert was known for getting records or tapes from his distributor that weren’t available at other record stores in the city. Albert also promoted live concerts at the Forum and other city venues, and he hosted autograph sessions in his store that included some of the biggest names in the business, including MC Hammer, Kid ‘n Play, and the Fresh Prince, Will Smith. Albert says close at the end of the month was a difficult decision. “It is the toughest decision I made,” he said. “These last two years, I didn’t make any money and I had to dig into my own pocket to keep the store open.”
Vinyl Collecting 101: Properly Maintaining Your Wax: If you are reading this, you probably have a new-found or existing respect for vinyl records and all that they have to offer. Truly, vinyl is making huge strides in renewed popularity, partly because of a format that allows listeners to enjoy an emotional connection with the experience of listening to warm sounds generated by oversized discs housed in colorful covers. While the appeal of owning a vinyl collection, large or small, varies in importance according to the collector, the methods for buying, transporting, playing, and storing are relatively set in stone. Keep reading to learn more about how to preserve your music collection for many years…Checking the condition of a vinyl record begins by carefully taking it out of the cover and visually inspecting it. While dust is to be expected, ground-in dirt is not. Use these tips to avoid problems…
The Prince Estate in Partnership with Legacy Recordings Announce First Wave of Physical Titles (CD/Vinyl) in Definitive Catalog Rerelease Project: The Prince Estate and Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, are pleased to announce the first round of physical titles set for release as part of the ongoing and definitive Prince catalog project first announced in August. Three essential full-length Prince albums, Musicology, 3121 and Planet Earth, will be available on CD and – for the first time ever – on vinyl beginning Friday, February 8, 2019. Each of the vinyl titles will be pressed on highly collectible, limited edition purple vinyl. In addition, the albums will be available in both CD/LP form alongside new exclusive merchandise corresponding to each album era via the Official Prince Store.
