Fresh off a press conference in which he said he was open to exploring any and all ways to rejuvenate his ear X-tacy music store, owner John Timmons has a pretty big idea to consider: moving his store to the Green Building in NuLu.
Gill Holland, the NuLu magnate and Green Building owner, said he has floated a number of ideas to Timmons, including moving the store from Bardstown Road to NuLu. Holland said he'd be willing to subsidize at least some of the record store's rent if a deal could be reached.
Holland said he and Timmons plan on meeting in early March to talk about it.
Timmons said that Holland was at the Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore in-store performance last night (Holland's record label produced Sollee's new album), and they spoke briefly.
“I know he's got a lot of ideas,” Timmons said, adding that he's received so many suggestions on ways to sustain his store that he's losing sleep.
Ear X-tacy's future was announced as in peril early last week, when Timmons called a press conference to discuss the store's economic problems. At the press conference, he issued a passionate plea for more business, saying that without more customers shopping at the store, ear X-tacy couldn't stay open.
“It may be as simple as downsizing or moving to a smaller space,” Timmons said today. He said he was in negotiations with the company that manages the property where his store is now, a corner known as Worth Plaza.
He said he'd prefer his current location over others—primarily because of the extraordinary foot traffic his store receives on Bardstown Road, something he said might be hard to find somewhere else.
Holland said he thinks there are multiple locations in NuLu where ear X-tacy would be a good fit.
“When they opened, Bardstown Road wasn't what it is now,” he said. “NuLu 20 years from now will be similar, so [Timmons] could be a pioneer again and replicate success.”
Timmons said he wasn't ruling out the possibility of moving.
“Right now the pressure's on me to make a good decision,” he said. “Out of consideration to all the people who support our store, I really have to listen to people like Gill who have different ideas.”
Please don't leave Btown Road...remember this area has served you well for years...think of the foot traffic/musical geniuses/junkies you've got right under your nose and brainstorm with them. weathering the current situation is not going to be a cake walk by any means, but see if you can find a way to: 1)reinvent yourself and stay in or very near your current location (maybe what worked in your industry when you started is no longer as relevent as it once was) and also 2)consider adding a second location while you keep this one...start small...you might actually have to piggyback in both locations. remember, papa john started in a broom closet inside a tavern, piggybacking. it doesn't get much smaller than that. good luck and get xcited about the endless possibilities. creative juices flowing can make a difference...every industry goes thru changes forcing us to adapt to survive...surround yourself with the best people who can guide you, even if you have to offer up partial ownership as payment for help to get back on track. get creative and keep putting the word out in as many different ways as you can. don't shut up and don't leave your home turf. look what happened to louisville antique mall and others...the btown road corridor needs vibrant edgy businesses and ear is an institution that can become hotter than ever...there have to be a zillion creative ideas floating around out there. turn to those around you who are succeeding and ask for their input. go.
He says he doesn't want to move away from his extraordinary foot traffic. He says if he doesn't get more customers he will go out of business. He needs to fix the reasons he doesn't have more customers. Hes behind the times. He needs to be flexible and try new things.
Ear X-tacy and the highlands go hand in hand. The highlands is a very unique venue. Although it's a great resource for music, I just don't see the foot traffic anywhere else but the Highlands.Everywhere else people are going to Target so they only have to stop once for all the items they need. PLEASE stay in the Highlands:) I love that I can park along Bardstown road and spend a whole day walking shop to shop. There's a vibe, and energy in the air that you won't find anywhere else.And it must be said that almost every car that passes by while you are there, has the ever so present ear X-tacy sticker pasted with pride on the back.
They will not get any foot traffic there. The should stay at their location and share it with another Highlands staple like Wild and Woolly or Why Louisville.
I don't think that NuLu has caught on like it should, so this could be positive for many parties. So sad, I got lucky at the X-tacy upstairs once! I'll miss it.
I wonder what John is paying in rent there? Commercial real estate is in the crapper right now, so he should be able to negotiate better terms. And if not there, then somewhere along Bardstown if that's where he wants to stay.
NuLu is going to be amazing, but it's just getting started today.
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Fresh off a press conference in which he said he was open to exploring any and all ways to rejuvenate his ear X-tacy music store, owner John Timmons has a pretty big idea to consider: moving his store to the Green Building in NuLu.
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John LaFollette