Hamilton record shop teases moving sale before ‘bittersweet’ relocation

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Published August 16, 2022 at 5:30 pm

A record shop in Hamilton whose pride is selling vinyl from artists who are “off the beaten path” is moving to the main drag — and hoping it does not have to carry too much.

Into The Abyss announced last month it would be leaving its location on Locke St. due to “unsustainable rent” at the location where it has been for five years, surviving health protections at the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic before the advent of vaccines. It has two shopping weekends left there before it moves into a space on King St. E. in the International Village, at a location between Wellington and Spring streets.

A social media post says Into The Abyss will have a final weekend sale on the Aug. 26-28 weekend before saying sayonara to the 119 Locke St. S. location. It will take about two weeks for Into The Abyss to open on King St. E., next door to the Café Oranje coffee and tea shop.

In the meantime, vinyl enthusiasts can lighten the load, or take some sorrow out of the parting, by swinging by Into The Abyss.

“Moving costs are MEGA heavy — not to mention we’ll be closed for two weeks,” an Instagram post read on Aug. 16. “We’d love your support in any way you can! We’re so sad to be leaving Locke Street… so bittersweet… but we’re up for the challenge on King.”

Into The Abyss is open every day — 12 noon till 5 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; 12-7 on Thursday and Saturday; and 12-4 on Sunday.

 

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Over the last half-decade under owner Brad Germain, Into The Abyss has earned a sterling reputation, as illustrated by a 4.9 Google Reviews rating.

The new location will be in a hub that also includes the VintageSoulGeek clothing store, Circle Studios Yoga + Art
studio, a Denninger’s grocery and deli location,

“To all those who have supported us on Locke — our gratitude is endless — as you supported us through endless condo construction, street redesign (in 2019), and a global pandemic,” Into The Abyss said in a post last month.

“YOU came and bought records. YOU ordered from our website when everything was closed because you wanted us to stay here. We’ve been here for 5 years because of YOU — and we hope that you will take a walk, ride a bike, hop on a bus, or drive your whip to the Village to support our little mom and pop.”

The move brings a record shop back to that span of King St. E., two years after Cheapies closed at its location a few hundred metres to the west. It closed in March 2020 after being at 67 King E. for 40 years.

The downtown neighbourhood between James and Wellington also includes the venerable Dr. Disc on Wilson St., which was founded in 1991.

 

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