OP-ED: SPINNING THROUGH THE STORM: HOW TO SHOW UP FOR EASY STREET RECORDS

This is an op-ed written to translate complex issues facing Seattle's music community into an accessible narrative rooted in resilience and cultural preservation through the lens of a landmark local business impacted by disaster.

SPINNING THROUGH THE STORM: HOW TO SHOW UP FOR EASY STREET RECORDS

Since opening its doors in the late 80s, Easy Street Records has been more than just a record store; it’s been a music institution, a launchpad for some of the city’s most iconic artists like Brandi Carlile, Macklemore, and The Head and The Heart, as well as a pillar of culture, connection, and creativity. Amidst rows of vinyl, an actual city telephone pole adorned with show posters, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from its in-store café, people connect, unwind, and find a sense of belonging. It’s a rare and radical kind of space.

Recently, they were hit hard by water damage, a brutal blow to any small business but especially devastating for one upholding the dying art of physical media while navigating Seattle's economic tides and increasing rents. The damage threatens more than just their inventory and your ability to buy one of the five vinyl color options for Taylor Swift’s “Midnights.” It jeopardizes the future of a space that has long served as a lifeline for local music lo

vers and budding musicians alike—a place physically connected to our city’s music history.

Physical media stores like Easy Street aren’t just retail, they’re archives, community centers, and informal incubators for talent. They’re places where the next great Seattle band finds its first fans, where intergenerational music knowledge gets passed down, and where cultural memory is preserved, not erased.

VIDEO BY JASON TANG

Support Easy Street Records Recovery

This moment is about more than repairing walls and restocking records. It’s about asking what kind of Seattle we want to live in. One where historic music institutions are left to weather disasters alone? Or one where community steps in.

Buy records, CDs, and merch: Every purchase—picking up a vinyl gem or grabbing some Easy Street merch—directly supports their comeback. Shopping in-store or online puts funds toward recovery.

Eat at the café: It’s not just about the music here—Easy Street’s café has become just as iconic as the record store, serving hearty breakfasts, brunch, and lunch fare.

Spread the Word: The more people who know, the more who can step up to help. Awareness is crucial in keeping places like Easy Street afloat when they experience unexpected hardships or really in general.

Engage on Social Media: Can't afford to grab a record or brunch? You can still help by following Easy Street on Instagram, and if you fancy yourself an overachiever, you can share their posts to your stories or make a post about what they are dealing with so your friends and family can get involved.  

Easy Street Records has always been there for Seattle’s music community, and now it’s time for us to be there for them. So, let’s rally around them—just like they’ve rallied around us for all these years.