NYC's Bleecker Bob's & Southpaw are closing down*

You know these stores stink because Jimbo does not shop at them.

 

one of my weekly stops many years a go...so many of the great stores are gone.

Sounds
Revolver
It's Only Rock and Roll
Second Coming Records

and a host of others...

also...Is The Strand Books Store still around?...I loved that place!

 

Take the path train across the river to downtown Jersey City and visit Iris Records. Maybe not as massive as Bleecker Bob's but there is stuff to be found. Majority of the records are $2. Mostly all used, but a small section of new issues/reissues.
http://www.recordriots.com/iris_records_10.html

 

Strand is still at 12th St and Broadway.

 

Second Coming Records closing was a loss... this not so much.

 

It is a very small world indeed , around that time a mate of mine who knew i was a big Ramones fan came into my record shop baring a gift of a CDr with a home printed (B&W) cover , he told me a mate of his from America had sent him it ..the name of the CD ?...Ramones Smorgasbord !

 

Picked up my first "unofficial" release on CD at It's Only Rock and Roll.

A few years later, I would make weekly Friday night visits to Revolver on my way to work. Many a Yellow Dog went home with me on Saturday morning. Those were the days.

I would stop into Bleecker Bob's sometimes after crossing the park and visiting Second Coming, but don't think I ever purchased anything. Wrecked records. Wrecked sleeves. High prices.

All of that stopped after 9/11/2001. Traffic patterns became too much of a hassle.

 

first place I'm going If I return to NYC! Thanks John.

 

yes...me too! I was in both establishments weekly...
Mark's wife Debbie was a sweetheart! Mark was a character indeed...loved them both...

 

both stores gone?
They had a great vinyl store across the street from their main store...I must have bought thousands of promo albums throughout the years in minty condition!...parking was a bitch!

 

Here's that Seinfeld clip at Bleecker Bobs

Seinfeld episode

 

Generation Records is still there at least, ja? What is/was the one across the street from Electric Lady?

Haha yeah that Seinfeld episode was first thing I thought of!

 

Back in 'the day' (when punk and new wave music was essentially unknown to most), I shopped at Bob's as it was the only place one could get the 'new' (and first) Elvis Costello LP, and all the fine 45's from across the pond that were truly hard to find.

I never actually dealt with Bob, but his sales staff, most of whom were quite decent and helpful. Bob was an obnoxious, arrogant, priggish presence, yelling at staff and customers alike. And yes, even then, his prices for 'rare' items were ludicrously high!

I have not entered the joint in about 30 years! Friends of mine who have, reported that the 'are you kidding' pricing is still in effect for most 'rare' stuff, although Bob was not in evidence at last report, one positive for the place.

Well past it's usefulness but it seems moving to a new location... if the same old pricing is in place, it won't be long before BB's shuffles off as it should have decades ago!

On the other hand, Southpaw will be missed. Relatively spacious club, good bar, and lots of acts other clubs shunned got me in there a few times a year. Other than for the typically too loud PA BETWEEN sets that made conversation something you had to take to the lower level, a nice place with a fine staff. And BTW, Park ('The Slope') Slope has not been a problem area in years. Indeed the stretch of 5th Av. in Brooklyn that was home to Southpaw, is considered to be Brooklyn's 'little' Greenwhich Village, full of clubs and artsy stores, shops and eateries, a good place to go that did not require a trip into 'the city' (AKA: Manhattan).

 

Always preferred Generation and its sister store on Bleecker...havent been up there for awhile;hope they're still surviving....

 

So are there any decent shops still near Times Square? I am going on Monday and Tuesday, and apparantly I should avoid Colony Records.......

I am looking for mostly new vinyl these days. But like older stuff of course.

 

Generation is still there. And, last I checked, so is the cat that rules their (vinyl) basement... I've bought many records there that have given me the sneezes thanks to that beast!

 

Quite to the contrary, I visit Colony whenever I am in New York. They have great memorabilia in their display cases and it's perverse fun to see what they charge for things. I would just leave my credit cards locked up somewhere. Plus, Colony is just down the street from the Brill Building, which is a real treat to see.

 

Yeah, I used to live close to Bleecker Bob's and the prices were always high.

 

So you are saying he was a native New Yorker?

 

One time I was walking past Bleecker Bob's with a Generation Records bag in my hand. Bob called over to me and asked to look at what I had in the bag. I showed him and he told me I got "ripped off." I told him to follow me into his store where I proceeded to pull out the same records in worse condition for three times the price. He kicked me out of the store.

 

Good to hear. I bought a lot of great stuff there, and the staff was cool. I literally lived across the street from Generation.

 

LOL! Great story.

 

Wonderful, great news, thanks! Will make plans to go next time I'm up in Nueva....

 

Revolver was across from Electric Lady. Great store.

 

Soon to be replaced by overpriced (and overcooked) coffee!