Village Music, Mill Valley, CA - CLOSING

[Dig'Em]

Just received the following by e-mail:

..last night I noticed in the window of Village Music a letter

from the owner stating that he'll be closing the shop come September. You

like vinyl? You like memorabilia? You want to visit a piece of

history? Check it out...

http://www.villagemusic.com/

A great story about Village Music from some guy's blog:

http://berlinbites.blogspot.com/2006/12/end-of-era.html

Cheers,

-----------------------------------

My correspondent is right on. Village Music is an unforgettable place; if you've been, I'll bet you remember it. Mainly vinyl, but also heaps of memorabilia. And CDs. 78s. John Goddard ran the place with a true love for music. He was written up in many magazines and newspapers...and with good reason. Check out the website pics.

If you're in the Bay Area, stop by. I wish I could say that the place could be saved if you do. But at least you can say "I was there".

[Jim R]

I was up there a few times in the 80's and early 90's. Great shop. I picked up a couple of discogs there too, iirc.

I remember his outstanding collection of photographs as an added highlight of being there.

[Dan Gould]

Looks like a cool store. Did he charge "collector's" prices or was there a more reasonable approach to pricing?

[Dig'Em]

I never saw anything overpriced there. He had - listen to me - HAS a few items that are pricey, as they should be. But, for years, reg'lar old, near mint LPs were $3.88 - 5.88.

Other cool things: a "staff recommendations" bin in front. This dates back, oh must be 25 years. A fairly new concept at the time...particularly when it didn't represent stuff they were getting paid to hawk. There is also a bin full of stuff worth buying 'for the cover alone'. Neat stuff, the kind of stuff that made LPs special.

Magazines were also a bargain. Discographies, as mentioned.

[BruceH]

Sad, sad news. But on the other hand, when I visited the store some weeks ago I remember being a little surprised that it was still there. He certainly held out for a long time.