Scotti's Down to Its Last Record Shop

Next year will begin its last stand at 351 Springfield Ave. This week, the music chain announced it was closing its only other existing Scotti's Music Shops store . 

"It's a testament to them serving their community well to have stayed in biz all these years," said Joel Oberstein, president of Almighty Music Marketing in California. 

At its peak, according to store owner Gary Scotti, the Scotti's chain had stores in Madison, Gillette and Chester. The first store opened in Summit on Dec. 1 1956, and this is where the business will end, he said, "We don't go on forever."   

"Multiple-store businesses across the country have had to circle the wagons and close all locations outside of their flagship store, so I'm not necessarily surprised," Oberstein said about the decision to make Scotti's Music a Summit-only store.

Still, Scotti was preparing for a very busy couple of weeks that include moving his inventory from Morristown to Summit and the influx of customers who grab records, CDs, T-shirts, posters and other music related goods, such as headphones in the days leading up to Christmas. He was helping customers on a busy Friday afternoon, but said he needed more people like them to use their minds to help keep stores like his in business. "We need to have people that actually buy from record stores," Scotti said about music and self-purported vinyl record fans.

In an era of digital downloads one record shop after another has been shutting its doors. Scotti is realistic about his future prospects. "Three-quarters of my business has been online," he said. The ubiquity of Internet purchases has Scotti questioning the need for a brick-and-mortar space. "I'm considering moving to a smaller spot."

For those who say they like to collect records or feel a need for record stores in the community, Scotti asked that they show support. "If you don't use your local stores, they close up."