Post navigation

Prev: (09/02/14) | Next: (09/02/14)

Music shop turned supplier to Capitol Hill DJs, Platinum Records searching for new home after 20 years on E Pike


With the sometimes relentless change underway around Pike/Pine and Broadway, you can pretty much take your pick of beloved neighborhood attributes and make an argument proving that special quality is “dying” on Capitol Hill.

We don’t know if music is “dying” but we do know that the world’s leading supplier to Capitol Hill DJs and E Pike guitar gods is having to uproot from its longtime E Pike home after 20 years. Here’s a post from owners Scott McQuain and Ali Tabatabaie reporting his Platinum Records Seattle location is on the move:

To all my Seattle peeps – after twenty years we finally lost our lease at the Seattle Platinum Records. While we look for a new space, we need to clear everything out. I’ll be here all week, so come on down and do some wheelin’ and dealin’! Store fixtures are available also, if you know anybody that’s looking. Display cases, truss, desks, everything must go. Major blowout pricing on vinyl, and now is the time to make us an offer on gear. Major Labor Day Week sale!

Kippy ready to serve back in 2012 (Image: CHS)

Kippy ready to serve back in 2012 (Image: CHS)

CHS stopped by the 915 E Pike shop in 2012 to learn more about the shop’s transformation from music shop to DJ gear and rock band outfitter:

 Located on E Pike since 1994, Platinum sells not only vinyl, but turntables, mixers, lighting — the standard accoutrement and tools needed for the men and women behind the ones and twos.

Platinum’s goal is to be a one stop shop for all things DJ, but there has been enough of a mandate from shoppers that they have now moved into areas that start to blur the line between a DJ shop and a traditional music store.

“We’re starting to get into guitars, picks, guitar strings, drum sticks, because there’s nowhere else on the Hill. We’re kind of venturing out, and honestly, it’s been a hit. We’ve been going through guitar strings like crazy,” said Platinum’s manager of ten years, Kippy.

A check of permits doesn’t reveal anything about what’s next for the E Pike space. Across the street, music lovers will still have High Voltage around — we hope! — for guitar and gearhead browsing.

The Portland Platinum continues to operate at 104 SW 2nd Ave.

We have messages out to Platinum’s ownership to learn more about what’s next. With Chop Suey up for sale, maybe some kind of music miracle pairing can be worked out.

Subscribe and support CHS Contributors -- $1/$5/$10 per month

12 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
genevieve
genevieve
9 years ago

Dammit! I walked by this store just Saturday and thought “I’m so glad they are still here”.

Bob Schmoot
Bob Schmoot
9 years ago

“A check of permits doesn’t reveal anything about what’s next for the E Pike space.”

Coming soon….the building being torn down in favor of yet another “mixed use” way over priced condo/retail combo pandering to the influx of yuppie techies. The continued gentrification and decline of what once was a very unique, quirky and special place that many called home.

blancheatthedubois
blancheatthedubois
9 years ago

This is an instance where it would be nice if the property owners in this neighborhood could talk among themselves about relocating Platinum within the neighborhood – how do we retain the businesses that give the area its character?

dc
dc
9 years ago

Unfortunately, retaining the character of Capitol Hill isn’t necessarily high on the priority list for a lot of building owners. It would be great if they did find a new spot for them around the corner but what are the chances that place isn’t getting its rent raised by 250% as well?

Jordy
Jordy
9 years ago

In another 10 years, Capitol Hill will have lost its unique character and become another SOHO and Chelsea district in NYC.
The rents are already on a par with both places.

Biff
Biff
9 years ago
Reply to  Jordy

Jordy, the rents aren’t even close. A 1 bedroom in Chelsea will run you $3,000-$8,000. In Capitol Hill that’s $1,700-$2,400. And it has in-unit laundry.

Jordy
Jordy
9 years ago
Reply to  Biff

You are correct.
I lived in NYC for 40 years, and saw what’s happening here happen there.
It was once a city of artists, writers, singers , dancers and small shop keepers who could afford the rents.
That has disappeared, and I believe it will happen here also.

Biff
Biff
9 years ago
Reply to  Jordy

Disagreed. Largely because Seattle and New York are very different cities. The artists, writers, singers, dancers and small shop keepers may get pushed out of a neighborhood, but Seattle is a huge amount of very different neighborhoods. Some of those neighborhoods will never be particularly desirable because transportation isn’t great.

Contrast to NYC, which is mostly easy to get anywhere. Boroughs are less desirable, but inside Manhattan it hardly matters if you’re in SoHo or the UWS. And, of late, Brooklyn. Brooklyn has been largely pushed out like Capitol Hill has been, but those artists, writers, singers and dancers will end up in another borough.

Jordy
Jordy
9 years ago
Reply to  Biff

Hooray for Staten Island!

trackback

[…] The closure of Platinum Records on E Pike is another moment of change for the entertainment culture of Pike/Pine. Those still rocking like High Voltage music and repair shop might feel like they’re the last ones standing. […]

csw
csw
9 years ago

Does anyone know where Platinum’s inventory went? I got there as soon as I could, but all they had left was empty display cases. Contact info for owner?

trackback

[…] around Neumos will also soon have another new tenant in the space left empty earlier this year with the exit of Platinum Records. In other Broadway “lost lease” news, much-loved Red Light Vintage […]