Erik Voeks On Needmore Discs’ Closing

We wrote yesterday about the impending closure of Needmore Discs, and how sad it was to see another local record store go. Erik Voeks was kind enough to give me a few more details on the specifics behind closing the store down:

“The music retail business has been changing for years (obviously). With everybody moving to downloads it’s become harder and harder for a small independent store like ours to survive…without resorting to carrying “smoking accessories” and black lights. We always wanted the store to be about the music. So many major new releases are being sold exclusively through big box stores like Wal-Mart, Best Buy and such…it sometimes feels like the music industry is intent on killing the very stores that made them what they are. We had six fun years and met some great people and are thankful for the customers that saw us through our time.”

It’s especially sad when you realize that record stores in the ‘burbs are pretty much a thing of the past. Even in the rare instances when a record shop manages to stick around, it’s usually to be found in an area that’s a destination, as opposed to near where most people live. Lawrence is fortunate to have two independently owned and operated record stores, but they’re both downtown, which is becoming more and more of a niche destination, as opposed to an area where folks live and work, much like Westport.