Lightbulb Club owners to open new record store in former Sound Warehouse shop

Future home of a new record shop called Block Street Records, a project from the owners of neighboring music venue, JR’s Lightbulb Club.

Staff photo

The owners of JR’s Lightbulb Club have another reason to raise a glass this week.

Business partners Wade Ogle and Benton Bandy were already planning to celebrate the bar’s 25th anniversary with two nights of free music this weekend, and now they’ve announced plans to open a record store next door to the bar.

The new store, called Block Street Records, will open at 17 N. Block Ave. in the space formerly occupied by Sound Warehouse, which was closed earlier this month.

The store will carry new and used vinyl, vintage stereo gear, a few musical instruments, instrument accessories, gifts, and more. Ogle said they’ll also explore ways to connect the bar with the record store for special events and listening parties.

“We’re planning to keep the record store open late on show nights, so you could be watching the band, and then walk over and buy that band’s record,” Ogle said. “We think the two businesses could have a really symbiotic relationship.”

If all goes well, the new shop will open in early November.