Night Owl Records Closes

After five years of business, Northampton’s Night Owl Records, a record store, local venue and occasional practice space, closed its doors. In a press release issued on June 20, 2008, Mark Schwaber, who owns the business with his wife, cited personal and financial considerations as reasons for the storefront’s closure. Like many facets of the music industry, Schwaber’s mom-and-pop record store was unable to compete with the new culture of internet downloading. Said Schwaber, “Once we built up our inventory enough to be considered a real live record store, everyone decided at once that they’re just not going to buy CD’s anymore. What can you do? Things change.”

Schwaber and his wife Jen acted as the sole proprietors of a store that was open over sixty hours a week. As a result, the newly married couple found they had little time to spend with one another. Schwaber cites couple’s desire to spend more time together as the main reason for the store’s closing. “It’s time for us to really spend some time together and delve into the new and wonderful world of being a newly married couple,” stated Schwaber. “We just need some time to do the things we’ve be[en] neglecting for the last [five] years.”

Though Night Owl Records no longer exists in bricks and mortar, the store’s inventory can still be found online through eBay.

Schwaber assures loyal friends and patrons that he and his wife will remain in the area and will continue to make appearances at local record conventions and other related functions.

www.myspace.com/nightowlrecords

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