Say It Ain’t So: Brooklyn Record Shop Halcyon Closes

halcyon brooklyn

As concerns grow over an upcoming “retail apocalypse” spurned by the global COVID-19 pandemic, much-loved Brooklyn, NY record emporium Halcyon has announced its immediate closure.

Opened in September 1999, the store has served music fans of many genres in various locations – Carroll Gardens, DUMBO and Williamsburg (the shop was housed inside of the now-closed Output Club) – around Brooklyn. Its most recent iteration was inside of the Etiquette Café and events space at 53 Broadway.

Halcyon announced its shuttering on Instagram: “We have come to the decision that now is the time we close our doors for the foreseeable future – we hope to reopen one day when the time is right. For now, we want to thank you all for your love, your loyalty and your community – you’ve inspired us throughout the years. Music is our culture’s heartbeat that carries us all through the good, the bad, the exceptional and the mundane. We encourage you all to keep Halcyon’s heartbeat going in your homes, your hearts and your lives. Thank you to you all who have been our family for the past 20 years. Until we meet again.”

With only a handful of record shops left in the Big Apple, Halcyon’s closure is a major loss, especially for those of us who like to shop for music in-person.

Walking into Halcyon was always a pleasant experience – the décor was well-thought-out, the vibe was positive and I always found Halcyon’s employees to be knowledgable and helpful.

RIP, Halcyon. You’ll be greatly missed.

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We opened our doors on September 9, 1999 in a small shop on Smith Street in Brooklyn, selling a wide variety of vinyl records from dance, jazz, funk, soul, rock, hip hop, techno, house and beyond. A common thread true to Halcyon’s ethos throughout the past two decades has been the shop’s dedication to creating and fostering a community around music, with our motto “united against silence” ringing true. We have come to the decision that now is the time we close our doors for the foreseeable future – we hope to reopen one day when the time is right. For now, we want to thank you all for your love, your loyalty and your community – you’ve inspired us throughout the years. Music is our culture’s heartbeat that carries us all through the good, the bad, the exceptional and the mundane. We encourage you all to keep Halcyon’s heartbeat going in your homes, your hearts and your lives. Thank you to you all who have been our family for the past 20 years. Until we meet again. 🙏🏻 #halcyon #unitedagainstsilence #vinylrecords #vinylcommunity

A post shared by Halcyon (@halcyon_nyc) on

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Darren Ressler

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