Bleecker Street Records In The Village May Soon Close Due To Rent Hike
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Bleecker Street Records in the West Village is well-known its selection of vinyl, CDs posters and other items – but the store may soon be but a memory.
Brad said there is just something special, and that is why he loves Bleecker Street Records, at 239 Bleecker St. between Carmine and Leroy streets.
"Even though it's more expensive, it's a much different experience than going to a big-box retail chain," he said.
Bleecker Street Records In The Village May Soon Close Due To Rent Hike
Bleecker Street Records has been in business for more than 20 years. A review in New York Magazine points out that a customer might find anything from a high-quality Japanese vinyl pressing of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Wedding Album" to an autographed copy of "Eat 'Em and Smile," and that the store is also home to three cats.
But 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported the store will probably close in April, because the new landlord plans to jack up the rent to $27,000 a month. Chris Simunek believes that trend is running the Village.
"It's absurd," he said. "You know, what's going to go in there is a Starbucks or something , or just something that we already have plenty of."
Another man called Bleecker Street Records an old-fashioned mom-and-pop-style store.
"I'm a guy who goes to a lot of record stores, and I appreciate them – and little by little, especially over the past five years, they've all closed down," he said.
The real estate Web site RKF.com shows the storefront up for rent, along with a sketch featuring an overhead sign reading "Good Property." The advertisement notes the storefront is flanked by upscale neighbors such as Amy's Bread, David's Tea, L'Occitane en Provence, Murray's Cheese, Rocco's, and a soon-to-open 16 Handles.
Retail music has been in sharp decline over the past decade, with nearly all of the major corporate chains having dwindled or vanished. Tower Records shut down all its U.S. retail stores in 2006 and continues only as an online retailer, Coconuts records closed most of its stores several years ago and now operates only five Tri-State area locations under the F.Y.E. name, and Borders Books and Music went out of business altogether in 2011.
Some smaller record stores have remained in business, and rekindled an interest in vinyl records. But published reports said within the Village alone, another record store – Bleecker Bob's at 118 W. 3rd St. – will soon be closing after more than 40 years in business, also due to a rent increase.
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