
Help Indy CD & Vinyl get over the finish line!
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HELP INDY CD & VINYL BREAK ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE! LET'S ROCK THE RENOVATION!
Early in 2024 there was a shooting inside Landsharks, the bar next door to Indy CD & Vinyl, that took the life of a Broad Ripple regular and causing our neighbor to shutter its doors and close for good.
After digesting what had happened, and coming to terms with the shock and sadness that this event created, we began to understand that not only had bad actors in our beloved neighborhood brought more bad press to our door, but we were left with the realization that there would be yet another empty retail space on Broad Ripple Avenue, this time right next door to us.
We began to brainstorm what we, as record store owners, could do to combat the bad press and empty storefronts, dovetailing with the realization that Covid had robbed Indy CD & Vinyl of some of our DNA: the kids play area and live stage we had in the shop for decades was gone, and we were missing the opportunities having our live stage afforded us: Mumford & Sons, Death Cab For Cutie, Courtney Barnett, Jurassic 5, Haste The Day, Abigail Washburn all have performed on that stage, and local not-for-profit groups like Girls Rock and Musical Family Tree used the stage for programming - as well as our regular kids day each month - it was gone and we have been unable to restore a performance space like that.
Indy CD & Vinyl was at a crossroads: do we keep doing what we are doing and continue to just be a world-class record store, or do we take the opportunity to fill a giant void in the Broad Ripple neighborhood by expanding and creating an all-ages performance and education stage? Would we answer the call to be the ones to provide the Broad Ripple neighborhood something it is missing? Will we be the ones to provide something Broad Ripple is envious of other neighborhoods for picking up what has left our area over the years?
We realized the only way to really deal with what had happened (between Covid, the endless construction on the Avenue, and then the violence at the bar next door leading to another vacant spot) was to expand into the empty space and build a proper all-ages community stage for in-store programming, not-for-profit events, live concerts, and educational classes. This is the opportunity given to Indy CD & Vinyl to expand into a once-dangerous eyesore of a space and recreate it into a Broad Ripple community asset!
Now that we are a full year into renovation and buildout we are finding out what we didn’t know: that Landsharks space was BAD. We have ended up needing our contractor to take it down to the studs, tear out all the electrical, fix the roof, install new air conditioning, completely reconstruct the floors, and start the space essentially from scratch. New doors. New bathrooms. We had no clue the space was in such need of work, and we had no idea that over a year working on it, although close, we still aren’t done.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need to raise cash for our push to the finish line to make this space absolutely perfect for you to shop, hang out, see a show, and be party of a growing and evolving community here in Broad Ripple!
Help Indy CD & Vinyl create an all-ages venue on Broad Ripple Avenue andprovide programming and culture for all in an historic Indianapolis neighborhood.
Indy CD & Vinyl has been here for you on Broad Ripple Avenue for 23 years, supplying your collections of music and providing a community center for musicians and music lovers to talk about your passions. Over the years we have had the pleasure of continuing to improve and scale up our shop and operations, and now we need help crossing the finish line with our expansion.
Please donate to our GoFundMe!
We are proud to be a locally-owned, female co-owned, latin co-owned, veteran co-owned store that supports local charities, local music, local arts & culture, local families, and we work hard to make our shop a safe space where all are welcome! Our mission, simply, is to make Indianapolis a better place to live.
We feel strongly that our legacy should go far beyond commerce and retail, that it is incumbent on us to support the arts and music in our community. We first need your help getting there. Please donate to the cause! We thank you ever so much.
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TL;DR - Indy CD & Vinyl is expanding into what was Landsharks after a shooting caused that bar to close. The expansion construction has taken over a year because of how messed up that space was, and now they need help crossing the finish line. Donate to the GoFundMe to ensure Indy CD & Vinyl can open an all-ages stage soon!
Organizer
Andy Skinner
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN