The independent or semi-independent (regional chain) record store has become an endangered species in recent years, driven to the brink of extinction first by national chains (Sam Goody, Best Buy, Walmart), then by online sales (Amazon.com), and finally by downloadable music (MP3s). These days, you're about as likely to see a cougar running through your neighborhood as find a small storefront hawking CDs or vinyl.
There used to be several such stores dotting downtown Chicago, but as with the nightclubs and movie houses, the small record stores have faded away. Now, another has gone: Rock Records.
I shopped there when I was in college (since it was a short walk away from Columbia), back when it was known as Rolling Stone Records, with a second location in the Near Northwest suburb of Norridge. Years ago, though, the two stores changed names: the Norridge location added an "s" to "Stone" (thus becoming Rolling Stones Records), and the Loop location became Rock Records. (Given the slight change to the Norridge store's name, I'd guess that Rolling Stone magazine threatened legal action, rather than the geriatric rock band.)
I continued going to Rock Records into adultness (since it was right across the street from Cardozo's and various jobs I've had downtown). It never had the greatest prices or the most expansive selection, but they had stuff you didn't see in the big chain stores as well as a decent selection of porn DVDs in the back (if one can use the words "decent" and "porn" in the same sentence).
In the last couple of years, selection was pretty thin (even the porn), and rarely did I see anyone but the clerks wandering the aisles. (I gathered that there had been a change in ownership.) It was no surprise, then, that the day after New Year's a sign had been taped to the door to let customers (however few were left) know that Rock Records had closed.
Rolling Stones, on the other hand, not only remains open, but seemingly thrives in its Norridge location. (It seems to have split in ownership as well as name.) The CD selection is one of the best I've ever seen, and it has a small-but-spunky DVD section (including, yes, porn). And since it's an easy (if long) bus ride from La Casa del Terror, I visit it with fair regularity.
I won't be able to visit Rock Records anymore, though. The store is closed, the cardboard cutouts of celebrities (living and dead) are gone, the building is for sale. (I hope it doesn't vanish as well--it's a lovely little Art Deco job with a fanciful musical motif on its facade.) If I want to kill time at lunch, I can't wander down its long, empty aisles. I can take the longer walk over to Borders or F.Y.E. instead, but it's just not the same. Few things are.
3 comments:
Rock Records is a huge part of my memory of being a bright-eyed, eager college boy (I was bright-eyed and eager, wasn't I, bro?) and a source of nostalgic feelings when I think of those seven years I worked at City Hall. When I worked at the Hall, less than a block away, I reached the point of not buying much there because, as you said, the prices weren't great, but it was cool to have the store to peruse during lunch breaks or when I needed to quickly buy a gift at short notice or when a pair of discman earphones suddenly conked out on me. Although I haven't been there in many months, I'm sorry to see it close just because I'm pretty tired of seeing so much about this city change so often not for the better.
I didn't realized it had closed until I stopped by the other day. I used to work closer to it and fondly recall the celebrity cutouts and the fact they had an outstanding collection of international and Celtic CDs—much of my collection came from there. But it sounds like it had gone sadly downhill under new ownership. I hate it when that happens.
Drove by last night and (finally) noticed it was closed. Very sad. this is the store that I would go to every week (after Rose Records closed) to spend all my money on vinyl then CDs. This is where I bought the Joshua Tree on the day it came out (dating myself). Sad but I must say the last time I found what I needed there was 2004 and the prices were high!
Funny that I should notice this on the day that the newest U2 album should come out and a buddy had to go to Borders to get it on the day. I have long ago moved off that band but a nice coincidence.
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