The reputations of record shops and their proprietors have been well documented, offering glimpses of people who are cranky, aloof and often unwelcoming. In my years as a record shop owner, I've been called all that and worse, not just by customers, but by friends and family as well, even at times I thought I was behaving quite the opposite. Serving the public is never easy, as both the public and the proprietor can feel somewhat entitled. Still, the customer is always right, right?
Joe and Meghan of Hold Fast in Asbury Park have always been quite the opposite of those stereotypes, to me and to their many patrons.
I was treated like a human being on my very first visit and like family from there on out. And though I know their decision to close up shop on 8/31 was a decision that will end up being a successful one for all involved, it doesn't quell the sadness I'm feeling right now. I couldn't help thinking about my last day. We closed up shop on Christmas Eve, 2005. The store was packed with old friends and new, regulars and passers-by, some genuinely broken that we were leaving the neighborhood. I also couldn't help but think, "Where the hell were all of you the last two lonely years leading up to this unwanted going out of business sale?" (See? Hard to beat the rep.)
We didn't want to close. We had to. We did not go out in style.
Hold Fast is going out in style.
Hold Fast was not only a destination for some of the greatest records at the greatest prices, but a place where I felt welcome. Being made to feel welcome is definitely not a usual part of the well-documented reputations of record stores. In the photo above, I am holding a very limited silk screen of The Heptones "Freedom Line" album cover. I had purchased the record in the shop and weeks later, Joe picked this up on one of his trips to Jamaica for reggae records. He remembered my purchase and thought I'd dig the silk screen. He was right.
Hold Fast was a class act for their time in business and they have bowed out with the same class. I know that what lies ahead will be handled with the same warmth and consideration, two things that are rare commodities these days.
Thank you for making all of my trips a success and the best of everything to you.
See you sooner than later.
Stay tuned to their online listings, as they will continue to grow this fall.
Hold Fast NJ
4 comments:
Nice story - they sound like really classy folks. We need more people like that.
Never forget my last day at Kaleidoscope, the coolest record store in our area. I was "let go" because the owners decided to forego selling records wanting to become a "boutique shop" instead. I had worked there about two years - loved every minute.
Later that evening my girlfriend dumped me. What a day.
Randy
Love the story, and offer my best wishes to the Hold Fast staff as they transition their business.
I wish I had a cool story about a record store like that. Closest I have is a local shop that sold a lot of cool vinyl and other memorabilia, including restoring and/or selling classic jukeboxes. Just walking through their store put a smile on your face. Plus, the store was owned and run by a really cool couple. Unfortunately they were only in our area for about 2 years before relocating (for personal reasons) to another state. This year, COVID-19 has forced them from a brick & mortar operation to online only.
The only other memorable record store for me was called Flip Side records, a small local chain in the Chicago area from 1976-1992. They weren't the cool independent, but they were a good alternative to Musicland, etc. And the store by me had the hottest, most gorgeous redhead working behind the counter, and she knew everything about every band, album, kind of music, etc. I swear to God she was like an encyclopedia, albeit a really sexy one. My 15 year old self was smitten.
I remember when the great Plastic Fantastic in the Philly burbs began their shut down. 25% off everything, the place was busier than I had ever seen it, and Green Manalishi was playing. Then 3rd Street Jazz went under, and AKA Music a few years ago. There's a decent place run by younger types nearby for used CDs and beat up LPs, but I haven't been there since the shutdown.
I have a bittersweet story about my favorite record store closing up shop. It happened on Christmas Eve in 2005. I was out of town for the holidays but I made one last stop before I left town. And I had been going faithfully even AFTER they moved around the corner, thus becoming invisible to so many regulars. They're right there, I would say! Right there!! You can see the storefront practically from their old location!! See?? There they are. The staff never made my purchases seem silly -- if you were passionate about an act, that was cool enough for them, even if the act wasn't. And they turned me onto so much great stuff. In-store concerts, endless arguments about this Beatles album versus that Beatles album and why didn't I own more Everly Brothers and Dean Martin and...? Ahh, NYCD. I miss you still.
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