Rockaway Records Won't Be Reopening as a Regular Store

Ugh. This one hurts. I have spent many hours digging through the vinyl and CD collections at Rockaway. It was always my favorite place to shop, and I would forever leave with a few gems. That is no more. The shop writes on its website:

“After 40+ years as an all-around record shop, we’re now an appointment-only showroom focused mostly on rare and collectible music memorabilia, vinyl, CDs. Our CD selection is now mostly limited to hard-to-find titles and rarities. We no longer carry Blu-rays or DVDs. We will have occasional no-appointment popup sales.”

There's a bit of solace in being able to still show up and shop at a popup sale, but I sense the offerings will be different, and not nearly as plentiful. Rockaway was also a great place to pick up a used CD at a good price. This is hugely disappointing, and another end of an era for Los Angeles record shopping.

Record Stores Still Live: Support Your Local Retailer While You Can This Holiday

It was very heartening to visit Rockaway Records on Sunday, as it held another of its periodic sales. Yes, I download and stream music these days, but there's still nothing like holding physical media — and discovering something in the stacks. I went home with 16 CDs for $36. I'm not sure how much of a business model that is, but I imagine Rockaway makes most of its revenue through its vibrant collectable business, and also from its real estate. (The music store has slimmed down over time, as it began renting off chunks of its building to other businesses, like Silver Lake Wine.) Thank goodness for stores like Rockaway and Amoeba, keeping the joy of music shopping alive.

Rockaway Records, 2395 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

The Return of the Cheap CD at Rockaway

There are few things I like better than cheap CD sales. Granted, most CDs at those sales are crap. But that's begun to change -- as, sadly, the CD becomes a less sought-after artifact, I'm beginning to find some really great diamonds in the rough at these sales.

That's why I'm excited to see that Rockaway Records' sporadic CHEAP DVD and CD SALE is back, and happening today through Friday, July 5 through July 8. DVDs normally priced $2.99 and less are half off, and CDs priced $1.99 are half off too.

Support your local indie record store while you still can! Rockaway is in Silver Lake, next to the new library.

Rockaway Records
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Regular Hours 11am-7pm
2395 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90039

Land of the 99 Cent CDs

I'm a sucker for used record store clearance sales, having spent hours searching through unorganized stacks of CDs, all for a few diamonds in the rough.

Rhino and Aron's always held great sales -- and I developed quite a few sunburns over the years as I stood outside flipping through stacks. Sadly, those stores are long gone -- but at least Silver Lake's Rockaway Records is still keeping the faith.

Rockaway's pop-up clearance store made a few appearances over the holidays -- and now it's back, the weekend of Saturday, Jan. 23 and Sunday, Jan. 24.

Once again, all CDs are 99 cents -- ditto LPs and DVDs. I walked away with several cool finds the last time the clearance store was open, and I plan to dig my way through several more boxes next weekend.

The best part: It's inside. So no bargain CD-related sunburns for me.