x
Breaking News
More () »

'It's been a real roller coaster ride for us': Music Millennium celebrates 50 years

Music Millennium is the largest and oldest record store in the Pacific Northwest.

PORTLAND, Ore. — In 1969, The Beatles released Abbey Road, the final album they recorded together before breaking up.

That same year, in a small shop on East Burnside, Music Millennium opened their doors and 50 years later, they're still selling records like Abbey Road.

"It's a little surreal, you know there's not many record stores in the country that have made it to 50. It's been a real roller coaster ride for us," current owner Terry Currier said. "There's been a lot of changes over the years."

That change has not only involved trends and technology but new owners as well.

In 1979, the original owners, the MacLeod and Lissy families, sold it and within 5 years that owner almost filed to file for bankruptcy. The MacLeod family assumed a half a million-dollar debt and took the business back over. Currier bought out the MacLeod family in 1996 and has owned the store ever since.

"In the 1980s, compact disc came along, and it started to dominate. The sales across the US, it was billed as the indestructible piece of music, that you couldn't scratch it. It was gonna last you for a lifetime," Currier said, "The vinyl record got shoved out the door."

In the early 2000s with the rise of digital download sites like Napster, record stores took a huge hit. 

By 2007 there were fewer than 1,800 record stores still open in the U.S. That's when Currier and other record store owners banded together to create the Coalition of Independent Music Stores. A group dedicated to the betterment of independent record stores and to save vinyl records.

The Coalition started Record Store Day, a day in which record stores across the world get exclusive and unique content from the studios. That day helped save the decline in vinyl record sales and fledgling record stores.

Now, in its 50th year, Music Millennium is the largest and oldest record store in the Pacific Northwest.

"I come here about 4 times a month I'd say,” James Browning lives just down the street. “It's usually kind of a weekly ritual."

He says it's hard to walk out of the store with less than five records.

"It's like stuff that you wanted, but weren't looking for and then you find it and it's just like 'oh yeah.'"

Whether you're a long-time customer or a first-time visitor like Hailey McCall.

"This is one that came out this year, so I don't even know how they have it," she said.

There's something for everyone.

Fifty years later, Music Millennium has withstood the test of time and Currier has no plans of going anywhere anytime soon.

"We are going to withstand this and we want to see Music Millennium here in 50 years," he said.

Before You Leave, Check This Out