Exclusive Company Closing Greenfield, Other WI Locations, Company Says

GREENFIELD, WI — The Exclusive Company, a longtime purveyor of vinyl records and other music media and equipment across Wisconsin, will be closing all of its stores in the coming months, the company announced Thursday on its website and Facebook.

The closure announcement came with a desire for one last hurrah on the upcoming Record Store Day on April 23, the company's announcement said, alongside a hope for the stores to become independently owned. But in the coming days, the brand will announce a schedule for closing each store, and liquidation sales will soon begin.

In Milwaukee, efforts have already begun from managers to convert the store near Brady Street and Farwell Street into new ownership, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in March. A GoFundMe to help has been set up.

The West Bend location has also been undergoing efforts to convert into new ownership, The Journal Sentinel reported Thursday.

In Greenfield, The Exclusive Company is located at 5026 South 74th Street.

"Our greatest hopes and efforts were for all of our locations to continue under new ownership as locally owned independent record stores. That will be the case at some locations but not all," the company's announcement said. "We are confident that any void left behind by the departure of The Exclusive Company will soon be filled by the next generation of music-loving Wisconsin entrepreneurs."

The brand's exit from Wisconsin vinyl-selling comes after 66 years of business in the state. The development comes after the sudden passing of founder and owner, James "Mr. G." Giombetti, the company said.

Mr. G. opened the first store in West Bend in 1956, and the store was his passion in life from that day forward, Exclusive Co. said.

"With the passing of Mr. G, we have lost not only the “voice” of The Exclusive Company but its very soul," the company's announcement reads. "Mr. G was The Exclusive Company and The Exclusive Company was Mr. G. Sadly and simply, The Exclusive Company cannot, and should not, go on one without the other."

"Get ready Wisconsin to 'say it with me' one last time," reads the company's announcement.

More information and updates are available through The Exclusive Co. Facebook page.

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