Funky Riddms closing?
DjArcadian
3,630 Posts
Anyone know this store in Berkeley? I drove by yesterday and saw he had a sign in his window saying he's closing up shop this month. Man, what a bummer. Not quite Groove Merchant quality but the next best thing and closer to my home. I'm gonna bounce by there today and pick some stuff up. Damn shame. I wonder why he's closing up. Moving along? Poor sales? Losing his lease?
Comments
Honestly though that store was trash, and well, I haven't been in since Gabe pulled some shady isht on some records. So good riddance IMO.
Only thing to recommend it was that, you know, you find a $60 record in there for $10....
His selection wasn't always the dopest but I did pick up a record or two in there that was hard to find elsewhere. I don't know if I want to know about any shady shit he might have pulled. If he's closing up I'd just like to keep my fond memories of the place.
Who knows what he did on the side to make extra cash (nudge, wink, nudge). No, seriously. Not trying to insinuate anything. I always asked if he sold anything on the internet. Said he didn't. I know he spun shows and I always overheard him talking about producing. Wonder what he's going to be doing now.
That's super real. There was a ton of hip-hop but nobody in the Bay Area buys classic hip-hop records. The rest was pretty paltry, if I remember. I think he made most of his money on accessories and new releases.
But honestly, I've been back to the Bay every 6 months, I always buy a couple crates worth, and I never need to hit up his shop, I never regret missing it...
Those who know, know what I'm talking about...
Oh and btw... he DEFINITELY was selling on ebay... see, it's shady stuff like that... never mind
"REAL-HEADZ-KNOW-THE-DEAL ALERT!!! [/b]
What, you ain't knowin'?
But did you get the memo we sent out?
I'm gonna need you to go ahead and use the new cover sheet for all your TPS reports, mmmkay?
See above for said memo.
d-d-d-d-dats my red stapler.
Your bar is set real low on the shady-meter if something minor like that even registers but I'm not here to start beef and certainly not trying to defend Gabe if he did pull some shit. Just saying.
No, that's not the issue at all. But dishonesty overall.
JP - he sold SOME things online but for the most part, he avoided extensive eBaying which I think was a mistake. There were many items sitting in his store that he could have moved out the door via eBay and still maintained a stock of good records for his local customers. In general, if you've had the same 12" up on the wall for a year, that's not a good sign. TIme to stick that sucker on the 'Bay.
I know a lot of folks aren't crazy about Gabe - I've always had pretty good dealings with him personally but I know that feeling isn't universal. His store was better than some are giving credit for...he ROUTINELY had very good records at very good prices. I rarely saw anything there that I thought was exhorbitantly overpriced. If anything, I came up on some really great records there over the years at prices I would never have been able to enjoy at other specaiality stores and certainly not on eBay. I think my best purchase was the "Best Kept Secret" remix promo (45 King) which I probably paid...30, maybe 35 for? I thought that was a fair price and then I started seeing it sell online for three times that!
But hey, at least the Groove Merchant is still here. That's what counts
Hey, don't knock it bitch.
greedy rubiyat hoarder.
B.O.X. ( beyond ordinary exisitance ) & MR. LEE 12" horder!
You know, I get that vibe from a lot of small shops. Like I'm almost unwelcomed there. Has everything to do with the person behind the counter. Only record store I've ever been too that really made me feel welcomed was Rooky Ricardo's on Haight St. That dude is fucking awesome but nobody ever seems to mention his shop.