Legendary New York City DJ Mecca Vinylmania has closed its doors forever. An apparent victim to skyrocketing rent, the dominance of digital downloading and the shrinking music business, the shop, which opened in 1978 and once boasted a string of outlets and a video store in the late ’90s, was an institution for DJs, vinyl junkies and music biz types. Local news channel NY1 had this quote from owner Charlie Grappone: “We affected a lot of people’s lives, and I can safely say that a lot record collections that still exist in New York City were built out of this store. I think it’s like the end of an era.”
“I think that when vinyl first came into play this store just took off,” added customer Doris Palazzo. “And as times changed, the record industry changed, and really I’m happy for them but I’m sad that it’s ended.”