Rockbites: Community bands together to rescue indie record store

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June 2002 • Rockbites Alternative Daily

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Community bands together to rescue indie record store
15 June 2002

A couple of weeks ago, thieves cleared out 80% of the CD inventory of Radio Free Records, considered by locals the best independent music store in the Durham-Raleigh-Chapel Hill 'Triangle' area of North Carolina, USA. They also took the cash register, the store’s stereo, and all the vinyl records.
    Stupidly, the criminals took the CD discs but left the jewel cases behind—making that portion of their plunder next to worthless. But it’s little consolation to owner Ethan Samsky, who established Radio Free Records in Durham having moved it from San José, California—and who did not have insurance to cover the loss. His small business, a central fixture of the local independent music community, has been all but destroyed.
    In its four years, Radio Free Records had earned a perfect five-out-of-five rating by customers on the Triangle-area Citysearch Website. Locals refer to the robbery as a 'tragedy,' and have quickly banded together to save the store. They are staging benefit concerts and contributing whatever they can, while the store scrambles to survive. There’s an informational Web page up (check our link), and a PayPal account established to accept small and large monetary contributions—go to PayPal and send to radiofreerescue@yahoo.com
    The second night of a two-night benefit concert takes place this evening starting at 8 (doors at 7) at The Basement in Durham. Bands scheduled to play include Rosa Begosa, Holy Roman Empire, 3.2.3 Contact, Cheers to No Tomorrow, Des Ark, and Transportation.
    If you live in the area, or in a neighboring state, you may want to print out copies of the Wanted flyer that supporters have put together, available from the informational Website. | Radio Free Records tragedy information site | | top of page |

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