📜 Post with us on Reddit
📝 Create a new article
🏭 Create a company page
🇬🇧 - in English
🇫🇷 - en Français (FR)
🇵🇹 - em Português (PT)
🇩🇪 - in Deutsch (DE)
🇯🇵 - 日本語で (JA)
Sponsored articles

You can edit almost every page by Creating an account. Otherwise, see the FAQ.

The Business (record store)

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

This article is about the record store. For other uses, see The Business.

The Business
The Business at its second location at 402 Commercial Avenue in Anacortes
The Business at its second location at 402 Commercial Avenue in Anacortes
Address216 Commercial Avenue, Anacortes, Washington, 98221, United States
OwnerNick Rennis, Evie Opp
TypeRecord store
Opened1978

The Business is an independent record store, music distribution company and concert venue in Anacortes,Washington, United States[1][2]

The store currently stocks new and used music releases on vinyl records, compact discs and audio cassettes, as well as music-oriented posters and original artworks.[3] It also frequently holds free, all-ages shows during store hours with locally and nationally known artists from a wide variety of genres.[4][5]

History and owners[edit]

1717 Commercial Avenue[edit]

Founded by Glen Des Jardins in 1978, The Business opened at 1717 Commercial Avenue in Anacortes, Washington. It was not a record store but actually a used book shop and photography studio where shoppers could even purchase bird seeds, stained glass and photography equipment.[3]

In 1988, local musician Bret Lunsford began working at The Business, part-time in between his band Beat Happening's tours.[3][6][7] By 1990, he had bought a share as a partner and in 1993, when Beat Happening broke up, he became a full-time employee.[8][9] Lunsford was responsible for starting to stock music releases in the store.[7] By 1998 he had become sole owner of the company, though the building itself was co-owned with his wife Denise Crowe.[8] Des Jardins went on to operate the Pacific Rim Used Books webstore.[10]

Under Lunsford's ownership, The Business (legally registered as The Business, A Retail Experiment, Incorporated) narrowed its focus to music and became principally known as a record store, stocking new and used vinyl records, compact discs and audio cassettes.[11] But it also continued to sale a number of other items including used books, movies on VHS and laserdisc, video games, turntables, cameras, magazines, postcards and other vintage collectibles and ephemera.[12][13] Lunsford also started hosting local concerts at The Business, founded his own record label Knw-Yr-Own Records, built a small recording studio out of the back room, and even opened a café-bistro, Café Desjardins, named after the store's original owner.[7][14][15]

Lunsford befriended other local musicians Karl Blau and Phil Elverum, who became involved in The Business.[3][6][7] Their bands The Microphones and D+ recorded their early releases at The Business's back room studio.[7] In 2001, Drea Killingsworth and Nicole Holbert, two The Business employees, revamped the bistro into Café Adrift.[16] Café Adrift eventually became its own restaurant at 510 Commercial Avenue.[17][18]

Lunsford sold The Business in April 2005 to husband-and-wife team Liz Lovelett and Jensen Lovelett.[19][20] Under the Loveletts' ownership, the store maintained the same scope: mainly selling music but also a great deal of antiques and collectibles and even clothing.[21] Lunsford and Crowe put the 1717 Commercial Avenue building up for sale in September 2008, asking $420,000 USD, which forced the Loveletts to seek out a new location for The Business.[8][19]

402 Commercial Avenue[edit]

The Business officially re-opened its doors at its second location on October 3, 2008.[19] Located at 402 Commercial Avenue in the John M. Platt Building, the historic brick structure had originally been built in 1890 for the Bank of Anacortes.[22] The Business took over the lease from the former The Red Snapper gift shop.[8] By this time, the Loveletts had already stopped hosting concerts and focused on selling vintage and antique goods instead of music.[23]

On May 1, 2010, The Business's ownership changed hands to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-native musician Nick Rennis.[5][24][25] The Loveletts have since gone on to operate the antique shop Alley Cat Antiques and since 2019, Liz Lovelett has been in politics in the office of the Washington State Senate, District 40.[20][26] Rennis had been living in Chicago, Illinois up until July 2009, when he moved to Anacortes and became a partner in concert venue and recording studio Department of Safety. Department of Safety closed down in February 2010 and Rennis was looking for a new music-related business venture to operate.[27][28] Through connections with Phil Elverum and Karl Blau (both formerly owners of Department of Safety and prior employees of The Business), Rennis was introduced to the record store. Under Rennis's ownership, The Business returned its focus to the music industry, making it an actual record store.[29] Rennis also re-established the free all-ages in-store concerts.

In late 2011, Rennis met Evie Opp, another Illinois-native, a business major living in Anacortes. The two started dating and Opp started working at The Business. They eventually married and she became co-owner of The Business.[5] In November 2011, Rennis and Opp started a music distribution arm at The Business, unofficially referred to as The Business Distribution or The Business Distro-.[24]

216 Commercial Avenue[edit]

On March 1, 2016, The Business opened its doors at its third location, only a block and a half north from its second, at 216 Commercial Avenue in the Alfred Olson Building.[30][31][32][33] Built in 1902 the Alfred Olson Building is part of the National Register of Historic Places and had formerly been home to streaming radio station Anacortes Music Channel, and prior to that of art gallery Anchor Arts Space.[34][35][36] The move had been announced as early as November 2015 and was stated to be the result of problems with neighboring stores.[34][37]

On April 11, 2018, The Business was voted Best Record Store in Washington State by webzine Vinyl Me, Please.[1] The webzine editors, Amileah Sutliff and Andrew Winistorfer, later included The Business in their coffee table book The Best Record Stores in the United States, containing a foreword by Mark Farina and published in 2019 for Record Store Day.[38][39]

On July 29, 2020, The Business announced a direct partnership with The Criterion Collection, allowing The Business to sell The Criterion Collection's DVD and Blu-ray releases in their retail store.[40][41]

The Business distribution[edit]

The Business's distribution outfit, unofficially referred to as The Business Distribution or The Business Distro-, was started in November 2011 by Nick Rennis and Evie Opp.[28] It handles global direct-retail and wholesale distribution for a vast roster of independent record labels. It also offers mail-order fulfillment for local independent bands.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Garrett, Jack (April 11, 2018). "The Business Is The Best Record Store In Washington". Vinyl Me Please. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  2. ↑ Lunsford, Bret (2009). Anacortes. United States: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-7129-4. Search this book on
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "About The Business". The Business. October 15, 2010. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ "The Business, Anacortes, WA, USA Concert Setlists". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Bylin, Emily (September 10, 2019). "Iconic Anacortes Record Store, The Business, Creates Global Industry Impact with Small-Batch Distribution". SkagitTalk. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Microphones Biography". Southern Records. July 19, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Baumgarten, Mark (August 1, 2012). "Independent Defiance". Anacortes Magazine. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "The Business Moves Downtown". Anacortes Now. October 5, 2008. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  9. ↑ "The Business, A Retail Experiment, Inc". OpenCorpData. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  10. ↑ Des Jardins, Glen. "Pacific Rim Used Books, Anacortes, Washington". Pacific Rim Used Books. Archived from the original on February 1, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  11. ↑ Lunsford, Brett (February 2, 2001). "The Business". Knw-Yr-Own Records. Archived from the original on February 2, 2001. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  12. ↑ "About The Business". The Business. May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  13. ↑ Lunsford, Bret (February 21, 2001). "The Business". Knw-Yr-Own Records. Archived from the original on February 21, 2001. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  14. ↑ Lunsford, Brett. "Knw-Yr-Own". Knw-Yr-Own Records. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  15. ↑ "K Records". K Records. May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  16. ↑ "Adrift Restaurant". Facebook. June 10, 2017. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  17. ↑ "Adrift - Unique Dining in Anacortes, Washington". Adrift Restaurant. April 29, 2006. Archived from the original on April 29, 2006. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  18. ↑ Lundsten, Teru (January 7, 2010). "Adrift: Swell food". Anacortes Now. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Jacobson, Kimberly (September 24, 2008). "Anacortes They Mean Business". goSkagit. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "The Bellingham Herald from Bellingham, Washington on July 23, 2019 · A4". The Bellingham Herald. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2021. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  21. ↑ "The Business". The Business. May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  22. ↑ "Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Anacortes". Anacortes Museum Foundation.
  23. ↑ "The Business Events". The Business. May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "The Business". Record Store Day. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  25. ↑ Rennis, Nick (April 5, 2010). "The Business". The Drink Up, Honey. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  26. ↑ "The Bellingham Herald from Bellingham, Washington on October 24, 2019 · A1". Newspapers.com. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  27. ↑ The Drift Record Shop (September 19, 2019). "The Business". Deluxe. Deluxe. pp. 26–31. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Ellinson, John (June 9, 2019). "The Business: Talking Trash with Nick Rennis About Selling New Records Today". Goat Palace. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  29. ↑ "Get To Know Your Local Indie Retailer Vol. 7 – The Business". Matablog. February 13, 2012. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  30. ↑ Alzola, Briana (March 1, 2016). "The Business Settles in at New Location". goAnacortes. Anacortes American. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  31. ↑ Olsen, E. J. (February 1, 2018). "The Business Celebrates 40 Years of Cultivating Community and Culture in Anacortes". We Are Mirrors. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  32. ↑ Allison, Jacqueline (December 5, 2018). "Historic Olson Building Set for Change in Ownership". goAnacortes. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  33. ↑ Opp, Evie (March 1, 2016). "We Did It". Facebook. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Anacortes Music Channel Makes Way For The Business". Anacortes Music Channel. November 13, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  35. ↑ Walker, Richard (April 24, 2019). "Housing Authority Plans for Olson Building Will Require Renovations Costing Millions". goAnacortes. Archived from the original on August 25, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  36. ↑ "Olson Building". Anacortes Museum & Maritime Heritage Center. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  37. ↑ Opp, Evie (November 13, 2015). "Big News: We're Moving!". Facebook. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  38. ↑ "The Best Record Stores In The United States". Vinyl Me, Please. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  39. ↑ "But Wait, There's More". Cascadia Weekly. October 23, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  40. ↑ Opp, Evie (July 29, 2020). "We are thrilled to be partnering with the amazing Criterion Collection". Twitter. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  41. ↑ Ross, Carey (August 5, 2020). "The Business Meets Criterion". Cascadia Weekly. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]


This article "The Business (record store)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Business (record store). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.


Retrieved from "https://en.everybodywiki.com/index.php?title=The_Business_(record_store)&oldid=3445327"
License CC BY-SA 3.0
Powered by MediaWiki
Powered by Semantic MediaWiki