On Sun, 29 Dec 2024 10:02:04 +0000,
soulexpress@gmail.com (Dean)
wrote:
On Sun, 29 Dec 2024 2:39:27 +0000, Bruce wrote:
This is a VERY hip list.
That doesn't surprise me. New Haven has always been Connecticut's
hippest city, and Cutler's was New Haven's greatest record store until
its demise in 2012.
Cutler's Record Store was a beloved institution in New Haven,
Connecticut, known for its rich history and significant impact on the
local music scene. Nat Cutler, along with his wife Lee, opened the
store in 1948 at 41 Broadway. The store quickly became a cultural
centerpiece for music lovers in the area.
By 1953, the business had moved to a new storefront at 33 Broadway,
and after Nat and Lee Cutler died in 1958 and 1961, their son Jayson
Cutler began managing the store.
CutlerÆs made its final move in 1999 when Phil Cutler (Jayson's son),
who joined the family business in 1971 at the age of 13, moved the
business to its current 2,000 square foot home at newly developed
27 Broadway.
Cutler's Record Store continued to thrive under the family's
management until Phil Cutler eventually closed its doors in June 2012
after 64 years in business.
https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/cutlers_act_ii_underway
(a substantial article)
Over the years, Cutler's adapted to the changing music industry,
transitioning from 78 rpm records to 45 rpm and 33 rpm records,
cassette tapes, and finally compact discs. Despite the rise of digital
music and internet downloads, Cutler's managed to maintain its charm
and loyal customer base for decades.
The store was known for its intimate neighborhood ambiance, with
walls covered in record albums ranging from classic artists like Hank
Williams and Glenn Miller to rock legends like Led Zeppelin and the
Rolling Stones. It also had a live-in cat named Wally, who often
curled up next to the record turntables in the front window.
The decision to close in 2012 was influenced by a combination of
factors, including the weak economy and declining sales of physical
music formats (and perhaps some factors revealed in the link above).
However, the closure was seen as a celebration of the store's long and successful run rather than a sad ending.
Cutler's Record Store remains fondly remembered by many as a
significant part of New Haven's musical heritage.
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