Ontario Community Newspapers

Waterloo Chronicle, 13 Aug 2020, p. 005

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5 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,A ugust 13,2020 w aterloochronicle.ca Crossword & SudokuAnswers More than 40years Since 1978 ServingWaterloo Region for over 40 years with trips of a lifetime 519-578-7740 209 Frederick St. Suite 203 Kitchener www.bullastravel.com Ontario Reg. #1283912 We have done the research and can recommend those trips best described by Bob Marley's lyrics where "Every little thing is gonna be alright". You're safety and well being is our prime concern. peace of mindTravel in 2021 with 85 BRIDGEPORT RD. E. WATERLOO (Across from the Bridgeport Rd. Plaza) SINCE 1971 519-893-8118 FURNITURE & MATTRESSES SINCE 1971 Comfort Plus SINCE 1971 FURNITURE & MATTRESSES Comfort Plus SINCE 1971 FURNITURE & MATTRESSES 85 WE HAVE RE-OPENED By Appointment Only WE HAVE RE-OPENED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY PLEASE CALL 519-893-8118 FOR DETAILS MON.,TUES.,WED. 10AM - 6 PM THURS.& FRI. 10AM - 6 PM SATURDAY 9AM - 5 PM SUNDAY 12 PM - 4 PM which has since reopened after both received evic- tion notices - wouldn't have been possible with- out a generous offer from the Ontario Seed Compa- ny, which leases the unit (formerly the Helen Ann Shop) that the record shop now occupies. "If I ever went any- where else (along King) there'd be no way I'd be able to stay alive," admits Dabin, acknowledging the transformation of up- town and the exorbitant rent at The Shops across the way. "It doesn't seem that they want mom and pop shops anymore," he said. One thing that people do still want is vinyl re- cords. The market for them never really died as some were brainwashed to believe during the CD's heyday, Dabin said. Its resurgence in re- cent years is something the seed company's vice president of finance, Mike Teeter, hopes to see bring vibrancy to the core. Teeter said there were many interested suitors for the 14 King St. S. loca- tion. Because it's a small- er unit overall, the rent generally isn't as high compared to others around. Yet he took to Dabin immediately after meet- ing him, knowing that he was a longtime local busi- ness owner and a "straight shooter." "I thought he brought an interesting vibe to the area," Teeter said. These days, with con- dos and apartments for students, yuppies and re- tirees being built briskly, this won't just be another bistro, bong shop or sa- lon. Teeter said customers can be wide-ranging -- a younger millennial or a middle-aged guy like him- self. He likes the variety. "It can be a banker; it can be an accountant; it can be a student; it can be a homemaker." Dabin kept vinyl alive when many others were and discarding it. One of his friends who worked at the region's landfill site witnessed whole collections and turntables that were col- lected curbside and dumped back in the day. These days, collectors say the Orange Monkey is one-of-a-kind outside ma- jor cities like Toronto and Montreal, and Dabin said he's currently sitting on boxes of inventory that he acquired 15 years ago. How his store mea- sures up is anyone's guess, really. Dabin works at a re- cord store and goes home and listens to records. "The last place I want to go is a record store," he quipped. Although much of his stock over the years has come from people's dis- carded collections, most of his in-store inventory these days is new, with thousands of titles in stor- age now being moved into the basement of the new digs on King, where loyal customers will now re- joice in a stair-less, air- conditioned shopping ex- perience at ground level. "A lot of titles are being reissued," Dabin said. Most of the Beatles cat- alogues are reissued and The Tragically Hip is be- ing reissued as well. Simi- larly, a lot of punk, metal, old jazz and rap are being reissued, as is obscure '60s and '70s psychedelic rock. "There are some things being reissued that I'm re- ally surprised are being reissued," Dabin said. Dabin is also sitting on thousands of CDs he still hopes to find homes for at a much lower cost than LPs. A new record label under the Orange Mon- key moniker will be oper- ated primarily by his partner Matt Morgenson. "This is something unique," Dabin said, while setting up shop. BUSINESS Continued from page 4

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