Downstairs Records in NYC

**nrgbeat** · October 29th, 2005, 06:40 AM

Not sure if this is still around, but I remember seeing their advertisments in Billboard, years ago.

Did anyone ever visit there? Was it a large store or a small space?

**Bernie** · October 29th, 2005, 07:28 AM

I remember going there perhaps once or twice when they were UPstairs on 43rd St. My memory is hazy, but I recall it being a small place. Never bought anything from them as I could find the same records at places like Rock & Soul or Discomat for far less money.

**JussiK** · October 29th, 2005, 09:22 AM

Whenever in NYC, the second thing to do was to rush down to the original downstairs Downstairs records (the 1st thing was to check out which gross-out splatter/cannibal/mondo movies were playing at the nearby New Amsterdam, The Liberty and the rest of the legendary 42nd Street grindhouses, all now long gone, just about everything else that was so good about the city). It was a small boxlike space: you entered and there was the counter to your left. On a wall to the right near the door, one could leave messages and calling cards. In July 1979 I bought Sylvester's Stars lp there plus Born To Be Alive, Here Comes That Sound Again, the Ole Ole lp by Charo, Johnny Mathis: Begin The Beguine, all sorts of stuff. But then again, you could get all sorts of stuff from The Colony 5 mins up The Broadway too via Sound Factory, and all around the town. Still, the Downstairs was the place to go, even if they never let you listen to anything.

**TheLordOfFlatbush** · October 29th, 2005, 11:20 AM

Downstairs Records was a spot that I would go to as a last resort when I couldn't find songs at Downtown Records.

Downstairs Records had some joints though, along the lines of Titus Oaks (remember that record shop).

Vinyl Mania, Rock & Soul and Disco Rama are the spots remaining to find some of the best, vinyl classics around!

When you're in NYC, that's the place to be!

**BrunoRepublic** · October 29th, 2005, 01:47 PM

It appears that Downstairs records is no more. I went to the most recent address for it on my recent trip to NY, and there was no trace of it.

**Bernie** · October 29th, 2005, 01:52 PM

Originally Written by Graham_Start

It appears that Downstairs records is no more. I went to the most recent address for it on my recent trip to NY, and there was no trace of it.

Graham,
Downstair's is long gone. Vinyl Mania on Carmine is still around, but nothing like it was before. Rock & Soul is still on 7th and has lots of bootleg Disco reissues on vinyl.

**tcbgent** · October 29th, 2005, 05:09 PM

Originally Written by nrgbeat

Not sure if this is still around, but I remember seeing their advertisments in Billboard, years ago.

Did anyone ever visit there? Was it a large store or a small space?

As stated DOWNTOWN is gone,Vinyl Mania is still a good place,there's also SOUND FACTORY and A-1 Records,both very pricey.In my opinion the best Disco store in NYC was
VICTOR'S HIGH TEC DISCO,it was an BLEEKER ST. At the time he had very disco record from the US,ITALY,CANADA,GERMANY,FRANCE.He must of had over 1M Records.OH,what a place it was.

**Bernie** · October 29th, 2005, 06:15 PM

I used to go to Hi-Tec on Bleeker back in the 80s and picked up a lot of vinyl when they were closing down. Used to go in almost weekly for new and used records and then stop at Tower and Vinyl Mania as well. Sorely missed.

**MixMasterMax** · October 31st, 2005, 10:11 AM

I have so many fond memories if Downstairs redcords. They would play the latest Disco on their turntables and you could not walk out without as much vinyl as you could carry. I think this is all that is left.

http://www.downstairsrecords.com/

**Mixmachine** · November 2nd, 2005, 09:00 PM

On my 1977 visit to NYC I went over to Downstairs records, down here in Miami the place was very well known among Disco vinyl fanatics, I don't remember anything about the interior of the store, but I do remember walking off with bags full of imports and getting lost in the Subs by myself :lol:

http://bellsouthpwp.net/m/i/mixmach/...irsRecords.jpg

Yeah, that 42st was something else in those days, XXX peep shows in every corner, card gamblers scamming tourists, junkies laying by the side walks or inside dumpsters, pimps passing flyers, filthy streets and masses of people walking by it all with out even blinking an eye, for me was like a visit to a different planet, after a couple of weeks of this I couldn't wait to get the hell out, good thing somebody with some sense cleaned that mess up.

**nrgbeat** · November 2nd, 2005, 09:09 PM

I wonder what Nick and John (former owners) are up to today.

**dfc99bb** · November 2nd, 2005, 09:30 PM

The House of Oldies opened in 1968 and is still around down in Greenwich Village. Website states over 1 million vinyl records in stock. At one time the West Village around Bleecker Street had many record stores. The high rents have forced most of them out.

http://www.houseofoldies.com/home.html