H+ Records Closed
Walked by this morning, and everything was gone. No info on their site, facebook or twitter. Sad to see them go, but not terribly surprised. Printers Row needs a Card Shop or a Coffee shop...something more suited for the residents.For some background, here is a post we did last year in September when they signed their lease.
Anyway, this is unfortunate. We liked the store and enjoyed the unique offering H+ provided to the neighborhood. Anyone have any additional information on this closing?
(Hat tip: TR!)
22 comments:
I like Printers Row, but this record shop should have been in Motor Row/Music Row area - There are about 3 recording studios, Fearless Radio Station (who have music talent coming in daily, dj's who live in the area and with conventioneers drifting around all of the time, they might have done more business. They were relying on Students and had bad marketing. Reggie's Record Breakers is in Music Row area and with other music/restaurant places opening soon, they could have created a nice spot. I know a coffee shop is badly needed south of 18th, maybe they could venture up with a coffee owner and open a dual purpose place.
one less hipster loser store in printers row, NBD IMO.
A coffeeshop with some nice lunch options and WiFi would be fantastic. A lot of Sloopers work, at least partly, from home and a spot on Dearborn (beautiful urban area in my opinion!) would be great. The new Artist's Cafe is pretty nice, but has too much of a fast food joint feeling; they need to put some couches in there and work on the decorations.
I agree with others, a nice coffee shop would be a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Or even a lounge like Square One. Printers Row lacks a casual, quiet type of place to enjoy a light meal and get work done/catch up with friends. All our food options are either chains or sports bars. Let's get some diversity!
Bring back Gourmand :(
MOST OF THE BARS IN SOUTH LOOP ARE SPORTSBARS BECAUSE THAT IS THE only thing that gets business
City Tavern is dead, Square one is fading fast, and most sushi lounges are closing up like Triad or are simply just not that good.
Sorry but Flo and S, Scout, Krolls, Jimmy greens, Kaseys, ---these are the places that do well. The sooner you realize this the better chance I wont have to read dumb posts like the ones above hoping for coffee shops
Anon 3:03 have you even been by Overflow before spouting off comments about coffee shops not being a successful business model?
Sad to see another small biz go down - regardless of their product. Just wait until Roosevelt Collection fills up with the dozens of crappy corporate franchises, the rest of the sloop will be a ghost town.
Coffee shops on every corner isn't sustainable, hot dog/ beef stands will save us.
@ Anon 3:03
If we assume you are right, why is this the case? With so many young professionals and students in the Sloop at all times, how is it possible that a nice coffeeshop can't make it? Are we utilizing our neighborhood differently than other folks around town. Are there too many people driving to and from work, only using South Loop as a place to sleep and never actually frequents cafes/bars/restaurants in the neighborhood (Brendan?).
The breakfast places (Yolk, 11 City Diner etc) here a jam-packed in the weekends, far more than places I've been to (during weekends) in "hot" areas like Wicker Park, to the point where the South Loop feels underserved.
it just kills some of you that sports bars do well in the south loop, doesnt it. LOL
Your tears are salty
I think that overflow coffee by state and 16th is doing pretty well. It is an independent coffee shop. Not sure about free wifi, I always get mine to go, but it seems to be doing quite well!
Agreed, Overflow is a great place! Great coffee and a nice place to work for a couple of hours.
. It s a shame to see that record store close. Enough with what might go into motor row. Your area is many many many many years away of having anything that feels like the actual south loop. Come a little north my friends and quit wanting coffe shops and support small record stores that were actually here. A new green line stop and a few businesses is not a renaissance. Support new and different business and shut up about coffee already.
Thanks to those who mentioned Overflow. We feel the love. We love you back! (we have free wi-fi, by the way)
We're here because we believe the South Loop can support local small businesses long term. In the short term, there are specific business strategies that small businesses need to have in order to make it to the long term. It's complicated but if you do a foot traffic analysis of prime retail locations and compare that with the foot traffic on the Northside, there's just no comparison. A business owner has to account for this sort of thing, which I believe we have.
We've toyed around with the idea of opening another Overflow in the northern side of the South Loop. Maybe something for the future if we can find the right investors and partners. Just want to let you know we hear you and are listening. ;)
The problem is not with the business that are in the Franklin building. IT IS WITH THE EXHORBANT MONTHLY LEASE THAT RN REALTY AND/OR OWNER OF THOSE 3 RETAIL SPACES CHARGES. Just an FYI, the owner of those three retail spaces in the Franklin building lives outside of the USA so SHE CAN AVOID TAX EVASION CHARGES HERE. The spa that opened up recentley will also have the same fate as any store that opens up in the Franklin building.
I love the sports bars - especially Jimmy Green's, where I watched the Hawks win the Cup. But I also love coffee shops and lounges. I walk to City Tavern and Square One about once a month - it would be great to have places like them closer to "home." So to be clear, I am not a sports bar hater, I would just like more diversity - like other neighborhoods have.
I also agree with the comment about breakfast places - given how crowded Yolk, Waffles, and Bongo Room get on the weekends, and how many people actually travel to our neighborhood to eat at Yolk, we definitely seem underserved.
I've heard the same about rents along much of Dearborn in Printers Row. I believe the former owner of Gourmand/Mediterra (current owner of Filter on Milwaukee Ave.) had the same to say about rents in the area. It's a shame really, because Dearborn has so much potential. I'm really sick of all the empty storefronts!
I agree with all of the above; it's fascinating how empty storefronts on a beautiful street in a major US metropolitan city somehow can remain in that state for years without the owners actively/desperately trying to attract business. Is the tax code such that unrented property is favorable to the owner compared to lowering the rent? South Loop for sure has enough people and the right demographics to support another cafe/bar/lounge/whatever...
Yep, a nice tax write-off for the property owners. I'm always skeptical when ownership of the retail portion of a building is separated from the residential portion. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Transportation Building, who retained ownership of their retail space, has tenants in all but one space.
I've been working/coming to Printer's Row for over 20 years. For the LOVE OF PETE will someone please open a coffee shop on Printer's Row. PUH-LEASE. (Neely -- I might be reaching out to you soon)
The guys at the record shop were honestly a little rude and didn't really seem to care about the people in the neighborhood. I live close by and I understand how ridiculous the rent is, but thats not an excuse for bad customer service. I would love a coffee shop or someplace a little more breakfast oriented then Hackneys.
I think Villain's suffered the same fate, getting pushed out by high rent. Too bad it's more profitable to write off the taxes on these spaces than to house successful businesses. If a vinyl store can't survive next to Columbia, then nothing probably can survive there.
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