The story of Texas' last classical CD store

[Brian]

I've mentioned this place on GMG (recently in the purchases thread) but I got to write a Texas Monthly magazine article about Texas' last CD store, probably the only independent classical music shop between Berkeley and New York.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/spring-classical-music-store-endures/

[Spotted Horses]

I've mentioned this place on GMG (recently in the purchases thread) but I got to write a Texas Monthly magazine article about Texas' last CD store, probably the only independent classical music shop between Berkeley and New York.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/spring-classical-music-store-endures/

Nicely done.

According to the post office, I live in Spring, although historic Spring is worlds away from my neighborhood.

I was thinking of visiting, but then I read:

"It's a hangout," Sumbera mused. "People don't just come in and flip through the stacks, pick up a couple of recordings, buy them, and leave. People stick around and chat."

I have to stick around and chat? After surviving the pandemic, I don't think I remember how to do that.

[bhodges]

I've mentioned this place on GMG (recently in the purchases thread) but I got to write a Texas Monthly magazine article about Texas' last CD store, probably the only independent classical music shop between Berkeley and New York.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/spring-classical-music-store-endures/

Congratulations, sir! Nice to see that others (in addition to gastronomes) are recognizing your talents.

--Bruce

[staxomega]

Good read. I was coming of age towards the mid/tail end of the CD era and remember things like this fondly

This was a time when if you wanted to hear a piece of music, you decided to buy a CD of it, and the way to buy the CD was to go to a real-life store, flip through the shelves, make a purchase at a manned cash register, and tear open the plastic shrink-wrap. It sounds like a fable from a deep past. But against all odds, the store I visited still exists.

There were one or two CD chains in Canada (HMV or some other?) that would open a CD for you and let you listen to it through headphones. That certainly saved me a lot of money.

[Brian]

I have to stick around and chat? After surviving the pandemic, I don't think I remember how to do that.

Well, you don't have to, I suppose 

It was interesting hearing from his perspective as an independent buyer. What labels are better and worse to work with. He said that for a long time, Universal/EMI type labels refused to work with him because he was too small of an account. He didn't even know about the new Warner Falla Edition box because they don't send him catalogs anymore. He says Naxos sends out catalogs months in advance and he prints them off, so people can walk in and place their preorders, but Harmonia Mundi just sends CDs completely by surprise with no advance notice at all.

Congratulations, sir! Nice to see that others (in addition to gastronomes) are recognizing your talents.

--Bruce

Knew you would like this one.

[Todd]

I wonder how much longer the shop - or any similar shop - can hang on.  All that overhead, so few customers, increasingly outdated physical media.  I have not bought physical media in person since Classical Millenium closed a decade ago.  (There was still a tiny selection of classical music in the Music Millenium portion of the building afterward, but maybe only 5-10% of the selection remained.)  And now I find shipping times often too slow even from Amazon.  I did enjoy dropping by the shop at least once a month for about fourteen years.  Dropped I don't even want to know how much dough in that shop.

[classicalgeek]

I've mentioned this place on GMG (recently in the purchases thread) but I got to write a Texas Monthly magazine article about Texas' last CD store, probably the only independent classical music shop between Berkeley and New York.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/spring-classical-music-store-endures/

Nice work on the article, Brian. I hope the shop continues to stay open for as long as it can - if I lived anywhere near Texas, I'd plan to stop in!

I wonder how much longer the shop - or any similar shop - can hang on.  All that overhead, so few customers, increasingly outdated physical media.  I have not bought physical media in person since Classical Millenium closed a decade ago.  (There was still a tiny selection of classical music in the Music Millenium portion of the building afterward, but maybe only 5-10% of the selection remained.)  And now I find shipping times often too slow even from Amazon.  I did enjoy dropping by the shop at least once a month for about fourteen years.  Dropped I don't even want to know how much dough in that shop.

I used to stop at Classical Millennium whenever I was in Portland - the last time was in 2008, I believe. I'm saddened but not surprised to learn that they've since closed. The other place within a day's drive of the Seattle area (which never had a record shop specializing in classical music - or at least not since I moved here in 1999) is Sikora's Classical Records in Vancouver, BC, which I made several purchases from over the years. They too have closed, unfortunately: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-s-only-classical-record-store-calls-it-quits-after-40-years-1.4909170

There's one independently-owned record shop in Seattle (Silver Platters) that still stocks classical at all, and it's all used CDs. If I'm interested in new releases, the only option is online shopping!

[Brian]

I wonder how much longer the shop - or any similar shop - can hang on.  All that overhead, so few customers, increasingly outdated physical media. 

He told me that since his family owns the land, he doesn't pay rent. His CD sales are just enough to cover lights, electricity, and ordering new stock. (Well and his own paycheck.)

He also told me that the harder thing - even harder than reaching new customers - is finding a part time employee so he can take some days off. If it's hard to find people who want to buy CDs, it's even harder for him to find people with the knowledge base necessary to successfully sell them and know what all the inventory even *is*.

[Todd]

He also told me that the harder thing - even harder than reaching new customers - is finding a part time employee so he can take some days off. If it's hard to find people who want to buy CDs, it's even harder for him to find people with the knowledge base necessary to successfully sell them and know what all the inventory even *is*.

I imagine so.  How many potential part-timers would be able to pronounce, say, Dvorak properly?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Nicely written article. As you indicate, the community atmosphere is the key factor. I wonder if the owner has thought about serving coffee and wine there. When I lived in New Orleans, I stopped by Louisiana Music Factory every second day. I even played music there. The employees were very nice and friendly. 

[Mirror Image]

Nicely written article. As you indicate, the community atmosphere is the key factor. I wonder if the owner has thought about serving coffee and wine there. When I lived in New Orleans, I stopped by Louisiana Music Factory every second day. I even played music there. The employees were very nice and friendly.

What a coincidence! I also was stopped by the Louisiana Music Factory daily whenever I was in New Orleans. I had long chats with several employees there, but especially one of the fellows that worked on the top floor who would always plays some great bebop. I bought many jazz recordings there.

As for the main topic, I miss CD stores immensely even if I didn't buy anything, it's the interaction with many of the colorful people that would frequent these stores that I miss more than anything. There was a store where I live called Recycled CDs, which ended up being a goldmine for most my Frank Zappa collection. One day I went in there just to look around and the owner behind the counter said, "John, I've got a surprise for you if you're interested." I said "Oh?" And he proceeded to sit stacks and stacks of CDs on the counter, I said "What in the world is this?" And then I started to look at them. Frank Zappa?!?!? He said "Someone just came in moments ago and unloaded their entire collection on me" My eyes got bigger and bigger as I started to go through all of these recordings. I said, "I'll take all of them!" I walked out of the store with 40+ Zappa recordings.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

What a coincidence! I also was stopped by the Louisiana Music Factory daily whenever I was in New Orleans. I had long chats with several employees there, but especially one of the fellows that worked on the top floor who would always plays some great bebop. I bought many jazz recordings there.

As for the main topic, I miss CD stores immensely even if I didn't buy anything, it's the interaction with many of the colorful people that would frequent these stores that I miss more than anything. There was a store where I live called Recycled CDs, which ended up being a goldmine for most my Frank Zappa collection. One day I went in there just to look around and the owner behind the counter said, "John, I've got a surprise for you if you're interested." I said "Oh?" And he proceeded to sit stacks and stacks of CDs on the counter, I said "What in the world is this?" And then I started to look at them. Frank Zappa?!?!? He said "Someone just came in moments ago and unloaded their entire collection on me" My eyes got bigger and bigger as I started to go through all of these recordings. I said, "I'll take all of them!" I walked out of the store with 40+ Zappa recordings.

During 1997-2002, I lived in New Orleans. During 1994-1997 and 2002-2008, I lived in a town one hour from New Orleans. Yes I was always on the top floor of used LPs! A hispanic looking lady was there all the time and she was very nice. 
You may want to live in Tokyo. There are Tower Records and two big stores of Disc Union with bunch of classical music recordings. There are several small CD/LP shops as well. In addition there are some classical music cafes. You go there and listen to the music of their choices, or you can bring your fav CD and ask them to play it. They often have live music as well. You make friends with many people there. You don't need to speak full-Japanese. Just try to speak a few J words and try not to appear arrogant/obnoxious. You will like the city and they will like you!

[Mirror Image]

During 1997-2002, I lived in New Orleans. During 1994-1997 and 2002-2008, I lived in a town one hour from New Orleans. Yes I was always on the top floor of used LPs! A hispanic looking lady was there all the time and she was very nice. 
You may want to live in Tokyo. There are Tower Records and two big stores of Disc Union with bunch of classical music recordings. There are several small CD/LP shops as well. In addition there are some classical music cafes. You go there and listen to the music of their choices, or you can bring your fav CD and ask them to play it. They often have live music as well. You make friends with many people there. You don't need to speak full-Japanese. Just try to speak a few J words and try not to appear arrogant/obnoxious. You will like the city!

Maybe one day!

[Spotted Horses]

I'll admit, I don't feel any particular nostalgia about buying CDs in a retail store. Trying to remember the last time I bought a CD in person, it was probably at a Borders Books location some time before they closed down. But starting around 1996, the vast majority of my CD purchases were at a series of now defunct web sites (cdnow.com, cdworld.com, cduniverse.com come to mind) before Amazon came to dominate the market.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I've mentioned this place on GMG (recently in the purchases thread) but I got to write a Texas Monthly magazine article about Texas' last CD store, probably the only independent classical music shop between Berkeley and New York.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/spring-classical-music-store-endures/

Is there one in New York? (maybe the Juilliard store.) Tower Records is long gone; what else is there? I buy everything online too, but first I check YouTube as chances are it's there already.

[Mirror Image]

Is there one in New York? (maybe the Juilliard store.) Tower Records is long gone; what else is there? I buy everything online too, but first I check YouTube as chances are it's there already.

Academy Records seems like a good store:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/academy-records-and-cds-new-york?osq=classical+music+store

I've bought some pretty rare CDs from them via their online stores at Amazon, eBay and Discogs.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Academy Records seems like a good store:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/academy-records-and-cds-new-york?osq=classical+music+store

I've bought some pretty rare CDs from them via their online stores at Amazon, eBay and Discogs.

Oh yeah, right. They mainly deal in used stuff - CDs, LPs, DVDs, BluRays. It's a crowded, unpleasant place to browse in, but I've bought from them too. They're not exclusively classical either.

[Mirror Image]

Oh yeah, right. They mainly deal in used stuff - CDs, LPs, DVDs, BluRays. It's a crowded, unpleasant place to browse in, but I've bought from them too. They're not exclusively classical either.

I've never been in the store. I've actually never been to New York City. "Crowded and unpleasant" seems to be two common adjectives that are often associated with the NYC experience. I'd still love to visit one day. Seeing the NY Philharmonic (and not to mention all of the chamber recitals that happen there) are definitely things I'd love to do while I'm visiting.

[Jo498]

I used to stop at Classical Millennium whenever I was in Portland - the last time was in 2008, I believe. I'm saddened but not surprised to learn that they've since closed. The other place within a day's drive of the Seattle area (which never had a record shop specializing in classical music - or at least not since I moved here in 1999) is Sikora's Classical Records in Vancouver, BC, which I made several purchases from over the years. They too have closed, unfortunately: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-s-only-classical-record-store-calls-it-quits-after-40-years-1.4909170

There's one independently-owned record shop in Seattle (Silver Platters) that still stocks classical at all, and it's all used CDs. If I'm interested in new releases, the only option is online shopping!

I was at UW, Seattle in 1995/96 and remember Silver Platters; it was quite nice and they had some kind of their own bonus point system. However, this was too far outside for an exchange student lacking a car, so I usually went to Tower records, either downton or University district (the latter had the disadvantage that often horrible music blasted through the store because the classical section was not properly separate but still decent selection).

I also vaguely recall a great store in Vancouver from two day/weekend trips there, probably it was Sikora's. With the exchange rates and typical prices US and Canada were a paradise for European CD buyers because it was far cheaper, especially full priced discs (that were also frequently on sale).

The 1990s were probably the golden age of book/music stores with Borders and others having these cafeterias built in etc.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I miss chatting with fellow classical music lovers in stores whilst browsing away.  There's one record store in my area where I can sometimes chat with staff or other music lovers there, however it's rarely about classical.

Almost forgot to say:  well done on the article Brian!

PD