Record Store Day is coming. Here’s what Milwaukee shops are planning this year.
Every April for the past decade, Record Store Day has meant huge business for local shops, with vinyl lovers lining up outside the doors of the Exclusive Company in Milwaukee as early as 4 a.m. to get their hands on rare new releases.
That didn’t happen this April, when the country was in the early stages of the coronavirus crisis. But Record Store Day is still a go.
Or rather, days. With shops, including in Milwaukee, reducing capacity to mitigate the spread of the virus, organizers have split up the bounty of Record Store Day-exclusive releases into three separate dates: Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24. Combined with Black Friday — which will also feature exclusive releases — local shopkeepers are hoping to make up for months of slow sales.
“It’s going to be a big help,” said Brian Kirk, manager of the Exclusive Company location in Milwaukee. “We were closed down for at least six weeks. … We did a lot of sales (online), but it was a fraction of our normal sales. … Like many stores, (revenue is) down considerably.”
But don’t expect live music, DJ sets or other typical Record Store Day fan fare. And one shop, Acme Records and Music Emporium, has already bowed out of the Aug. 29 event, although the shop may be open for the others.
There are six other shops in the Milwaukee area that will be participating — although they’ll have special criteria in place because of the pandemic. Just remember plans can be fluid these days, and these too are subject to change.
Bullseye Records
The shop at 1627 E. Irving Place can only accommodate five customers at a time to maintain social distancing. So owner Luke Lavin said they’ll be using a lottery system.
The store will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, and all customers outside will have their names entered in the lottery, with names drawn to assign people 20 minute slots throughout the day. Masks are required, and will be offered to anyone who doesn’t have one.
If you can’t make it there for the lottery, you can sign up for available time slots outside the store when you arrive. Weather permitting, Bullseye will have a stockpile outside of Record Store Day exclusives customers can browse.
Lavin said if crowds die down, the 20-minute time limit may be waived, and they may also offer curbside pickup for customers requesting specific titles.
Exclusive Company (Milwaukee, Greenfield and West Bend)
The Wisconsin’s chain Milwaukee location, 1669 N. Farwell Ave., will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and will limit capacity to 20 customers at a time, first come, first served. They’ll all be required to wear masks.
“We’re encouraging people to check in and get out as quickly as possible … so people have as little contact within the store as possible,” Kirk said.
If the store is at capacity, customers will be asked to line up on the sidewalk outside, and ensure social distancing. The store will also offer a sale: 10% off all items, excluding Record Store Day exclusives.
The West Bend location, 144 N. Main St., will have its own sale — 50% off all pre-owned items, priced at $19.99 and less. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Exclusive Company in Greenfield, 5026 S. 74th St., will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. A sale for this location has yet to be announced, and capacity and other criteria have yet to be finalized for the company’s Greenfield and West Bend stores.
Off the Beaten Path
Off The Beaten Path had just settled into its newest location, at 1219 Milwaukee Ave. in South Milwaukee, when the coronavirus crisis hit. It’s been open by appointment only, but it’ll open its doors to the general public for Record Store Day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Owner Chris Kruse will have some specials too, including 20% off all items inside, and a sidewalk sale, with LPs outside going for a dollar from 10 to noon, 50 cents from noon to 3 p.m., and 25 cents from 3 p.m. until close. Customers will be required to wear masks and maintain social distance.
Rush Mor Records
Milwaukee’s longest-running record store, at 2635 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., stayed closed “as long as we could,” owner Dan DuChaine said, shutting down a few days before the statewide mandate in March, and reopening the second week in July.
For Record Store Day, it’ll be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a four-person limit inside, DuChaine said. Customers have to wear masks and space out, and the shop will provide gloves upon request. If the shop is at capacity, customers should stand on a chalk marker in a line on the sidewalk outside, so they maintain distance.
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.
Piet also talks concerts, local music and more on “TAP’d In” with Jordan Lee. Hear it at 8 a.m. Thursdays on WYMS-FM (88.9), or wherever you get your podcasts.