The bittersweetness that was record store day has come and gone. New World Record closes its doors on May 18th.
As the 21st century begins, the world is seeing the new, modern society transform at a record pace. Buffalo is no longer the industrial bull it used to be, and as the city struggles to find its place in the post-industrial economy, many casualties will pave the way of its future.
NWR was an Elmwood Avenue institution for so long that, when the store moved to its location on Delaware Avenue, to many it was already dead. Of course the move was inevitable, with dwindling record sales and bills to pay--we've all heard that story before, yet,like many other so-called progessive-minded citizens, I asked myself "why?"
Why can't they find a way?
Why does Elmwood have to change?
Like the razing of a many a vacant house, the end of NWR should be viewed not as the loss of the present, but a push toward the future. Maybe one day Buffalonians will laugh at the thought of a bricks-and-mortar record store in the center of the Elmwood Village. By then, anyone who bought indie or underground records will probably be priced out of the neighborhood anyway.
As of this being published the currently has everything at 30 percent off. Here are some of what others are saying about the store closing:
http://www.buffalonews.com/lifearts/next/story/335420.html
http://www.buffalorising.com/story/new_world_loss
