Record shop marking anniversary
| Wednesday, Jun 10 2009 05:26 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Jun 10 2009 05:26 PM
What: Darkstar Records Birthday Jam
When: noon Sunday
Where: Cottages across from Rabobank Arena, 1024 Truxtun Ave.
Information: darkstarrecordsandbooks.com or 859-0241.
Dan Robertson's friends were worried for him when he announced he was opening a record store last year. A retail business in the middle of a severe housing slump and $4-per-gallon gas?
This weekend, those friends will be celebrating with Dan on the first anniversary of the opening of Darkstar Records and Books.
The offbeat record store has become a haven not only for local music lovers, but also an international destination for serious record collectors. By specializing in first-quality, rare recordings, memorabilia, comics and other entertainment, Darkstar is not only surviving, but thriving in an otherwise hostile economic climate.
"It's a niche," Robertson said. "If you knew record collectors, film buffs, comic fans -- it's a mentality. They're going to feed their habit."
Robertson said that despite the poor economic climate, collectors tend to give up other things -- even necessities -- to find that special item. He should know: He's a collector himself.
"I would be completely unemployed and still be flipping through the racks looking for LPs," Robertson said.
Robertson said he began collecting when he was 14, after he and his friends started a 100-watt pirate radio station in Kern County and needed to buy records to play on the air. He counts as formative seeing the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin at the Monterey Pop Festival, and also working for Buck Owens at KUZZ radio at the height of the country star's career in 1969. Toss in a love for big band and swing he inherited from his parents, and you have the kind of eclectic taste that appeals to a wide range of collectors.
Robertson said the store, located in the complex known as The Cottages at Truxtun Avenue and N Street, is modeled after a friend's record store in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.
"I didn't like strip malls," Robertson said. "I wanted to create something that was so different from what everyone else had."
Robertson runs Darkstar with his two sons, Steven and Andrew, who have added their expertise in film and comics in an effort to appeal to more collectors. Internet sales from the store's Web site and on eBay have extended the business to Europe and Japan. Robertson said the reputation of the store has grown to such as to become a destination, attracting travelers from all over the country and even those visiting from abroad.
"We're a family of geeks, which has become cool," Robertson said. "And we've turned that into a business."
Robertson credits his success on the quality of the collection -- this isn't thrift store merchandise, nor does he sell at thrift store prices. After starting with his own collection, Robertson has added to the inventory by careful buying of collections, and shopping record shows and estate sales.
The anniversary party will be held at the store at noon Sunday. Robertson calls the party a thank-you to the musicians who inspired his love of music and gave him the career of his dreams. "I can think of nothing better than to spend my days in a record shop," Robertson said. "Especially because it's mine."
