New York is abuzz with the opening of a new record store. That’s right; New York is getting a new mega record-store in a time where digital music runs the world and sales.
Rough Trade, a branch of the London ship will open ship in Brooklyn this Monday. The store is a massive shop of CD’S and vinyl that covers 15,000 square feet, coffee counter and 300-person-capacity performance space.
“We feel we’ve got a model that works” said Stephen Godfroy, a co-owner of the store. “This is a place where you will actually want to spend time.”
The store took four years to plan and has seen enthusiastic support from record labels, which see vibrant independent shops like its self – spots that not only to sell records- but to promote them and the artist they feature.
Record stores have been on the decline – once a stable, most have closed. Tower records closed 89 outlets in 2006 and Virgin shut down its last megastore in 2009.
If it is successful, Mr. Godfroy said he hopes the Brooklyn store can be “an epic center of change”.