by KYW's Hadas Kuznits
A famous South Street area record store has closed its doors. It's the end of an era for 611 Records.
611 record store owner Nigel Richards says in the 1990s, his store not just a record store but a music culture store:
"Back in the days when there were lots of rave parties in Philadelphia. We'd have like, 60, 70 people outside hanging around, waiting to get tickets to get parties, et cetera. So that's kind of what we pride ourselves on, the fact that we helped kind of build and cultivate this whole culture -- and it's nice."
But with the Internet came the decline of the retail music store:
"As far as small music culture stores like this, there used to be like 600 in the country. There are probably now less than 40, maybe less than 20."
And Richards is closing 611 because it has become a tax burden:
(Kuznits): "So how do people in the music industry that wanna push music, how do they make money anymore?"
"Touring, DJing, touring."
For more info on 611, check out www.nigelrichards.com.