Friends are people with whom you can share a laugh, talk about important topics, share some great ideas over excellent music. This is one of major examples of what you can get at a family run, independent record store; a close knit community where like minded individuals come together to experience one of the things they all love, the music. I being a local to Central NJ, had Sound Station of South Avenue in Westfield NJ; the very place was music and because I shopped there I became immersed in everything the store had to offer. From friendly fellow customers to the ever fantastic store owner Bob Larsen; I became a part of something larger than the physical music housed within it's humble walls. This however currently remains a memory…
Off to the right in this picture is what remains of Sound Station as it became a victim of a fire that happened on Sunday January 22nd 2012. A part of me feels like it has been ripped from my chest and now replaced with a charred and empty void, that the store itself has now become. One of the last remaining independent record stores in NJ along with Fords' Vintage Vinyl; but this was and is my record store and for those of you who have never shopped independently for music this message may fall on deaf ears but this was more than just a physical place for music it became a family to me. This was not the typical record store that shuts down due to a lack of funds or lack of people buying physical music, this was one that was turning a corner and on a major upswing, only to be felled by a catastrophe of this magnitude.
I have shopped there for the better part of 4 years and many of their patrons have shopped there for 15-20 years and still we all stand here today wondering how and why this all happened. They hosted concerts for local bands, had movie nights, and developed a sense of community that was second to none. I will miss the store so very much as my fiancee and circle of friends knew if we needed new music; Bob was the go to guy for orders. As they try to relocate or rebuild their store, I will be there every step of the way, whether it be a fundraiser or concert for their benefit I will go out and support them all the way. We love you Bob and Liz all of us in the Sound Station family. Remember to support your local record store, as it means more to the community and it's music lover's than you can ever hope to imagine. For more perspective you can go to this link. Sound Station will rise again with your help, click the link here to donate.
An example of what great things Sound Station had going for them.
