Crate digging at The Groove on Record Store Day, 4/19/2014
On Monday, East Nashville vinyl staple The Groove announced via its social platforms that new owners would soon take over.
“We have been very fortunate to have served East Nashville and the local music community over the past 7+ years and want to thank everyone again for their love, support, and patronage over the years,” read a note signed by longtime owners John Moore and Louis Charette. “We truly appreciate each and every friendship and working relationship we've established during our time at The Groove and we hope to see you again soon.”
Established in 2007 at the corner of South 11th and Woodland Streets in Five Points, The Groove relocated to its current location on Calvin Avenue, just behind the East Nashville Porter Road Butcher location, in 2010. Rumors had circulated for the previous few months about the business’ possible closure, but Monday's announcement was met with surprise by neighbors and fellow record shop owners.
“People are super interested in closings instead of just going out and supporting the store,” Jem Cohen, co-owner of Fond Object, tells the Scene. “I’m happy that [Moore and Charette] were able to sell instead of just closing and becoming another development. Congratulations on all of it.”
The increase of internet commerce in the last 15 years has made the sourcing of used vinyl increasingly difficult for record stores. Coupled with the pressing need for good sell-through of new product — unlike other media, vinyl that doesn't sell typically can't be returned, and therefore must be absorbed as loss — that's created a market that can feel like it's more about survival than flourishing.
“Record stores are more of a passion project,” says Doyle Davis, co-owner of Grimey’s New and Pre-Loved Music, which has been in business since 1999. “I know quite a few owners, and they’d all agree with that.”
Moore and Charette had not responded to requests for comment at press time.
The Groove’s new ownership, the married team of Michael Combs and Jesse Cartwright, says they're unaware of any acute financial difficulties. Cartwright, a Nashville resident since 2006, tells the Scene that he stumbled across a listing for the business’s sale in March. With an audio engineering background, Cartwright has spent the last decade in corporate sales with a Gaylord Opryland affiliate. When he found the listing, he and Combs jumped at the chance.
“Creative stuff is definitely what I needed to be doing, so I found this opportunity and got out,” Cartwright says.
Cartwright is quick to assure longtime Groove customers that changes will be minor, and will be in the form of an increase in live events, including acoustic performances, signings and album releases. The store’s formidable collection of titles by local artists will remain. The expansion of the EDM section is high on the list of priorities, alongside mining past eras for gems that may have been forgotten.
“There’s so much out there that sometimes people get lost in the shuffle,” says Cartwright.
After keeping the doors closed Tuesday through Thursday this week while Cartwright and Combs worked out minor details, The Groove is open ’til 8 p.m. today and through the weekend, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday.
