But they’re not all like that. Witness Bull’s Eye Records, 1627 E. Irving Pl., launched recently by Luke Lavin after his Farwell Music shop closed in late March.
However, despite the fact that the used CD selection at Bull’s Eye is better than the new selection at many shops, no one’s digging the treasures, says Lavin.
“CD sales have absolutely tanked. Neither one of us (he or his sole employee Ken Chrisien) can figure out how we can have so many really great CDs that just sit there. We've been to other used CD shops and you're lucky to even find bands that you've heard of, let alone ones you'd want to own. Obviously not everybody knows about us, yet.”
And Lavin isn’t just blowing smoke. The shop is stocked with gems. Jazz fans would be thrilled by the selection of gently handled discs priced at below $10.
But, Lavin isn’t panicking yet. After months of hard work building out the space, the shop opened quietly on June 8. There’s been no advertising, no celebratory grand opening ... yet.
“It's been kind of nice to open up a little under the radar and finish stuff up as we have time,” he says. “Business has been quite good considering we really haven't done anything to let people know we're open yet. Word of mouth spreads pretty fast amongst the die-hard music collectors.”
And those collectors have been feasting on the vinyl treats in the shop, the interior of which is graced with the design touch of local artist Harvey Opgenorth.
But Lavin says his vinyl success and CD sales plunge isn’t leading him to make any rash decisions quite yet.
“"Vinyl-only" is a bit fanatical. Obviously, Ken and I both love records and they are our favorite medium. But we basically just love music and any way we can get it and listen is cool with us.
“(We have) the best used CDs in the city (in) all styles of music. And of course great LPs in great condition. Again, all styles.”
And the lack of dust and scratches on the LPs is easily noted in a refreshingly well-lit, clean, dynamic-looking used record shop. Bull’s Eye is no bargain basement rubbish tip of a shop.
“We get a lot of compliments on the space. It's definitely a little bit different than the usual dingy record store. When you see the lovely racks, you can thank Ken Chrisien for those ... best looking racks in the city.”
Partially due to economic realities and partially due to their DIY spirit and desire to remain in control, Lavin and Chrisien did as much of the work as possible in the transformation from closed used bookshop to sparkling new record store.
They even tore up and repoured the shop’s concrete floor. Lavin is justly proud of the photo just inside the entrance showing the pair preparing to lay the new floor.
“The work was hard,” Lavin admits. “Two months of seven days a week with Ken. We started by demolishing pretty much everything in the place. Almost nothing was spared. Luckily for me, Ken had some expertise in that area after some time working in a cabinet shop and helping to build a few houses. And on top of that, we weren't getting paid. All the money went toward materials and inventory and finishing the space. It's all been worth it, though.”
Lavin is planning a proper grand opening in July or August -- “Did someone mention a block party?” he asks cryptically -- but in the meantime, roll over there and get first pick at the goodies.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
