Encore Recordings owner to retire but downtown Ann Arbor store will remain open
Encore Recordings owner Peter Dale is retiring and two employees are assuming the business, located at 417 East Liberty St. in Ann Arbor.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The store, located at 417 E. Liberty St., has been a fixture in downtown Ann Arbor since it opened at its current location as the Liberty Music Shop about 50 years ago. Dale has been the owner since 1993.
Dale said his last day will be June 30. After that, two Encore Recordings employees will assume the final two months of his lease. The employees, Jim Dwyer and Bill McClelland, purchased his store’s inventory and have already signed a new lease with building owner Ruth Fitzgerald that begins in September.
Although it will technically be a new business, Dale said the record store will remain the same under a slightly new name: Encore Records. The record store will stay open during the transition.
“They are an entirely new entity,” Dale said. “It’s a clean break for me, but things will stay largely the same at the store. Most people will not even notice that the store has changed owners.”
Soon-to-be owner McClelland agreed and said Encore Records will keep most of the same employees and make few changes to the store.
"I don't want to change it too much," McClelland said. "I like it the way it is and I just want to keep this place going. I really just couldn't see Ann Arbor without it."
Dale said there is a tradition of the business changing hands between employees at the record store.
“Each time the business has been purchased, it’s been purchased by employees,” Dale said. “It goes from one employee to another and this continues that tradition.”
Dale started working at the store when he was an Ann Arbor High School student in 1966. The original Liberty Music Shop opened in 1939 at 205 E. Liberty St., before moving to the Encore Recordings location in the 1960’s.
Through the ups — being named one of the top 25 record stores in the country by Rolling Stone magazine — and the downs, including a tough economy and the digitization of music sales, Dale said he’s had a great ride at the store.
Now, Dale said he’s ready to apply himself to other things, mainly charitable work in the city of Detroit.
“This is just a logical time for me,” Dale said. “I’m ready to move on to other things.”
Although Dale acknowledged that many record businesses are struggling in light of the Internet music industry, he said 2011 has been the best year for Encore Recordings since before 2005.
“The record and CD business has been in a decline since the beginning of the century,” Dale said. “But the thing that has saved us is records. That’s where our profit is made and this has been a good year.”
He said he hopes the new Encore Records will remain a staple in Ann Arbor because the business is a “treasure.”
“It’s really important that this store survive for Ann Arbor,” Dale said. “It’s not healthy for Ann Arbor to have nothing but food places. There has to be something to draw people downtown and this is an important part of that.”
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
talker
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
I've been to Encore several times since the ownership changed, while it remains a great store. The inventory is amazing and regardless of your tastes, there's always something worth buying. Ann Arbor and people who live throughout Washtenaw County, need that store, as well as the clothing store next to it, and the used book store across the street. Many things available at Encore would never be found on-line. Also, there's a sense of joy from buying something, walking out of a store with it, taking it home right away, and knowing you shopped locally. You might even find something that a friend or relative in another part of the country would be happily surprised to receive. I'm only one of their many customers.
frankweir
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
My son, also named Peter, practically grew up in that store given the MANY times he and I visited it! Got to know Peter and of course Carmen, the Papillon. Got to be friends with Fred and some of the other workers who have come and gone and always liked to get updates about Peter's son, roughly the age of mine. Peter, you will be missed. Remembrances of visiting the store with my son, as he grew up, is a part of my memories of his childhood and his constantly changing tastes in music! You'll be missed...best to you and YOUR son... frank weir
Wolf's Bane
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 4:29 p.m.
Bittersweet that Peter Dale has decided to retire from Encore Recordings. Relieved beyond words that Encore Recordings will not shut down or change much. Funny, how Dale ran such a great store that he ended outlasting his biggest competition, Border's Books and Musak! Let's here it for small businesses!
godsbreath64
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.
I always got the feeling when I both entered and left Encore ' that this was americana. Thank you, sir. I have a lot less space in my crib thanks to you and your store:) A lot less! My favorite purchase was a Keith Moon biography (although the native america CDs came in a close second). I can't say thank you, enough. May you find the happiness in your future that so very many of us found rolling into Encore' g
Jessica Webster
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 3:31 p.m.
Congratulations to Bill and Jim! I will miss Peter a lot, but I'm thrilled that we will still have an excellent record store on that block.
vitaltoofor
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
Great Store! Continued success to the new owners. Greatest selection of used vinyl in MIchigan hands down!
samshoe
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.
Love this store. Even in a digital age there is something about looking at actual records!
clownfish
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 12:28 p.m.
Will miss Dale and his papillion. He ran a great store. Good luck to the new owners.