18 responses so far ↓

• 1 cinemaphile // Feb 9, 2010 at 12:55 pm

  I remember attending record listening parties at the old store back in the late ’80′s. It would be a HUGE loss to the Highlands (and Louisville in general) if this place folds.

• 2 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Feb 9, 2010 at 1:33 pm

  It’s almost come to the point with electronic media that you have to find another revenue stream to supplement the music sales. I wonder if someone could co-brand ear X-tacy with a bar or restaurant to help pay the bills. The building is big enough to house both in some way.

• 3 jake // Feb 9, 2010 at 1:35 pm

  I’ve always wondered why ear X didn’t focus more on becoming a venue.

• 4 Log // Feb 9, 2010 at 3:43 pm

  As someone who’s not a native of Louisville, I can tell you that most people who live here don’t realize how lucky they are to have a record store like Ear-x-tacy. I’ve lived in quite a few cities, and visited even more, and I always like to find the “hip” record store when I’m there. Most pale in comparison to EXT. I download my share of music, but I also buy more than the average music consumer. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this would be a HUGE loss for our city.

• 5 Jamie B // Feb 9, 2010 at 4:18 pm

  Standing around a burning building with hands in your pocket and saying “that is a shame” doesn’t do much to put the flames out.

  I propose we try and help the place out. Maybe we can start throwing out practical ideas here..but let me start by suggesting buying all the music you planned to buy this month and next at Ear-x-tacy. Maybe also get your valentine the gift of music rather than fading flowers. You can tell her/him that its for a good cause too.

  Ear-x-tacy going down has more implications for the arts that just another vacant building. As the article stated, the trickle down into concert promotions and local music would be significant.

  What else can we do folks?

• 6 Gordon Garrett // Feb 9, 2010 at 4:19 pm

  I’ve known John on and off for years. He is one of the most dedicated guys around. This would be devastating to the community. Maybe he could put a pizza restaurant in or open a small bar? Let’s all go buy something there this week.

• 7 jake // Feb 9, 2010 at 4:22 pm

  Jamie B: Good point. Instead of folks spending $10 on iTunes, they could spend it at in a real, live store and get a physical copy of what they’re buying.

  John already gets waaaay too much of my money but I’m not opposed to spending more there.

• 8 G-townReader // Feb 9, 2010 at 9:10 pm

  Just which he had PURCHASED his own Highlands building in 1994. Then lease negotiations would never be a problem.

  Hard to imagine losing Kentucky Kingdom AND ear X-tacy almost simultaneously…

• 9 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Feb 9, 2010 at 10:06 pm

  Unfortunately we are going to see more of these kinds of situations due to landlords having their loans mature at far higher rates.

  Retailers are going to be caught in the squeeze between lower profits and higher real estate costs. Landlords are going to have to hedge higher interest rates when negotiating leases.

• 10 chief // Feb 9, 2010 at 10:37 pm

  Where is the LOVE for locals like Ear X-tacy, Coyotes,Kentucky Kingdom, and many others from the City? ….where’sw the rush and consideration like the Million bucks Mayor Jerry whipped on the Cordish boys for a failed project that was built with our FRee money in the first place…..John Timmions has been a great ellement of LOCAL business and it’s a cryin shame to hear news of this , especially when the less deserving are CHOSEN by KING JERRY and his Jesters to be given life support , even after they have been given the likes of over 50 million!
  Maybe John Timmions should get the place down at Coyotes to makew a deal to include him down there and intergerate it into a retail sales and performance venue?

• 11 Christy // Feb 10, 2010 at 12:59 pm

  Diversifying is certainly the best strategy for EarX, and no offense to John, it may be too late. Liquor licenses are virtually impossible to get on Bardstown road, without liquor, the restaurant business can be “the biggest loser”. Maybe some small business strategy “experts” can jump in there and give some advice to John. Let’s get on Facebook, twitter, et al and remind everyone to buy any hardgoods music at EarX NOW! But remember this is only a short term fix.

• 12 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Feb 10, 2010 at 4:22 pm

  I have a thought, before the winter ends, John applies for a winterization cash-for-caulkers grant to get money from the government. After that, he needs to give out environmental awareness leaflets with every music purchase and promise that he’ll plant a pine tree seedling for every box set sold. That we can qualify for government stimulus money and declare his staff as a “created or saved” job under the stimulus bill.

  Change the business name to”CordXsh-tacy” and just ask the Major of Mulch for a $500,000 forgivable loan.

  Kidding aside, you are very correct Christy in your assessment that a liquor license would be the only way to have the profit margin to make it work.

• 13 spencer // Feb 10, 2010 at 5:41 pm

  Well im kinda suprised.
  One: i thought for sure by now that Mr.Timmons would “own” his building and business .After 25 years to still be paying rent on a place is foolish on his part. I remember not so long ago it seemed everyone either owned a ear-x-tacy shirt or bumper sticker..surely he utilized that money over the years?
  Second: if he hasnt already why hasnt he made the ear-x-tasy a brand name and really pushed it. License out the name to draw some royalties.
  Third: Sadly the old saying goes “If you fail to plan then plan to fail” it is during times like this that we will see who has been investing in the business and who has been buying one too many cars or going on one to many vacations.(not saying that is what he has done.)
  Fourth: It may be a dying business model and inevitable. Music is and has changed if coconuts/camelot cant make it and borders is on the verge of bankruptcy… i mean used cd/dvd’s that you buy off them who they in turn have bought off potheads and spoiled price ignorant kids and old comic books and posters will only go so far.
  The crowd that ear-x-tacy and electric ladyland cater too generally for years use to have free income but the way the economy they are getting crushed just to make rent and wont be buying the same things anymore.
  Being a generation X’er i have just grown out of all that. Comic books dont appeal to me and paying 8 bucks for a used cd/dvd from them when i can get it on the internet and a new one to boot for a buck…well… thats the sign of the times catching up to ear-x-tacy.
  and my last point i wanted to make was this…

  the last time i ventured to ear-x-tacy was probably 5 years ago. There was a couple teens you looked like they had just come from a my chemical romance/skateboard party…which thats what you expect but this time i was afraid they were going to try to bust into my car….ironically the folks working at the Ear were not concerned with those teens as they were with me… for some reason i must give off the impression that i dont want to be spoken too or waited on or treated like a customer.
  No one there even acted like they were glad i had driven 25 miles out of my way to patron the store even though the parking is still crap in that area.There was more a atmosphere of distracted, annoyed, attitude that they not only didnt want to wait on me they didnt want to be pulled away from anything they were doing at that time which the guy who was waiting the counter seemed engrossed with his own opinion about who the best x-man was than actually focusing on helping me find what i needed.
  Plus the merchandise has become quite overpriced and dated.
  I know its a millenium falcon in its original box but if brought it down to your store in mint condition and asked for appraisel they would offer me $40.00 bucks then turn around and put $400.00 on it? COMEON!! but seriously …several times i looked at comics and just couldnt believe what they were asking for some of their merchandise…you get the impression they are waiting for a sucker to come along and not trying to actually sell anything.Regardless i hope they make it cause i do love Ear-X-Tacy and i will venture down again with my daughter and spend some money to do my part but they need to address some of these past points i have made or its just a matter of time.

• 14 Bill // Feb 11, 2010 at 8:55 am

  It’s too bad they very well might not make. The music industry has changed so much over the years that now its relatively easy to obtain music over iTunes or some other medium. Even the Napster type sites went to pay format and you get to pick individual songs and burn it to your own CD.

  Maybe he can keep it afloat long enough to keep things going and then getting a liquor license or changing the business plan a bit to make it more viable. Parking is a bit issue at the location as its quite left to the walking crowd. Plus a lot of music is probably being bought either online or at the mall stores or something of that sort. Its too bad because he has had quite a run at that location. Hopefully things will start looking up as I am sure he’s not the only independent business right now having serious issues. Best wishes.

• 15 allison // Feb 11, 2010 at 4:55 pm

  If the upstairs of the building is no longer in use, why not consider leasing out the space to another business, such as a local coffee shop? That way you’d be bringing in more business for both parties.

• 16 Matt Loomis // Feb 12, 2010 at 9:41 am

  All of you rushing out to overpay at ear xtacy this week, are you prepared to do that from now on? It’ll still be the modern equivalent of a blacksmith’s shop next month too, you know. how long do you plan to overpay to keep this “landmark” afloat?
  Where was John Timmons when Better Days folded? Counting YOUR money, that’s where.

• 17 jp // Feb 12, 2010 at 8:29 pm

  When will folks accept CDs have been a false idol offered by the Music Whores since the 80′s.
  That is why Lps have continued to gain a share in the market & why many labels include free downloads with their lps. We want quality with portability. This has & will remain the format to listen to music.
  That is why stores in Cincy are focusing on increasing their inventory of lps – new & used! Along, with cool alternative media, dvds, books, etc….

  I hope Ear Xtacy does not close their doors, that would be a lost, even though I regularly drive to other cities to buy lps that they I am consistently told by Ear Xtacy that they can order for me. If I am gonna order something…. I’ll do it on-line, don’t need you.
  I do shudder at the thought that the only lp store in the ‘ville would be underground sound.
  America eats its young.

• 18 vintage67 // Feb 13, 2010 at 7:55 pm

  Lots of independent businesses are struggling;
  as are “evil” chain stores. Calling a press
  conference was a bit much.
  The man is married to a physician. He’ll be fine.
  Certainly not every business person who is
  failing has that kind of safety net.

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