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Photographs by Byron Kerman
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Records and CDs sold in a brick-and-mortar store—it’s a difficult business model in 2012, and the times have finally caught up to local landmark Webster Records, scheduled to close on January 31. The shop, operated by a series of owners (and in a series of locations) since 1953, was supposedly the country’s fourth oldest music store. Webster Records specialized in classical and jazz, two genres that are a hard sell anywhere these days. It was only a year ago, said employee Bill Wondracek, that the shop, which sold mostly CDs, actually starting carrying vinyl again. All of the sudden, the kids wanted retro, and they wanted records. So now, during the shop’s bittersweet last days, bargain-hunting vultures (myself included) are picking over the last of the classic-rock LPs, as well as CDs by the likes of Duke Ellington and Bach. You might even find a few unsold CDs by Erin Bode, jazz chanteuse, Webster Groves High grad, and signee of the noted MAXJAZZ label, located just next door on Lockwood Avenue.
Here's a photo gallery, if you feel like waxing (no pun intended) nostalgic:
