Sonic Boom: Cap Hill Music Mainstay Shutting Down

We were just informed of some terrible news: the Capitol Hill location of Sonic Boom Records is closing down.

A little over a year ago, we spoke to the owner of Sonic Boom, Jason Hughes, via email for a piece that didn't make it onto our site. His response to a question of how digital music had effected his business was not a positive one; he was obviously frustrated with the turn of the tide away from physical music and into the digital age. However, with interests piqued in vinyl over the last year (especially with the resurgence caused by Record Store Day), we thought things might be turning back to the local wax shop. Unfortunately this seems to have not been enough. In a press release this morning Hughes stated:

"After 8 years on Capitol Hill, Sonic Boom Records will officially be closing its Melrose Ave. location on September 5th. Economic circumstances, industry collapse, rising rents and a building perpetually under construction all played a part in the decision. There will be a weekend "market" in the old Sonic Boom space consisting of vinyl vendors, vintage retailers and other sellers until further notice.

Sonic Boom will continue on in our Ballard location which has been in operation for a decade now. We'd like to thank all of our regular customers on Capitol Hill and our customers who have been with us since we opened our first store in 1997. We hope to see you in Ballard."

Personally, we were always giddy to walk into Sonic Boom (both Ballard and Capitol Hill locations). Hopefully, we'd walk out having used only half our paycheck, rather than all of it. And, on more than one occasion, Sonic Boom and Easy Street have been a source for albums we hadn't been able to find anywhere else, both local and national.

The demise of music on vinyl doesn't have to happen. So take your clicking finger off the mouse and head down to the store instead.

As a side note, in addition to vinyl, we're starting to see a resurgence in cassette tapes. Despite the eye roll or giggle those may have elicited ten years ago, nostalgia is getting the better of us, and more than one has landed in our bags at the checkout counter. Head down to the Ballard location and show your support, we want to keep our record stores local.