Legendary Record Store Closing in Bed-Stuy

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New York DJs and music snobs are about to lose one of the last remaining havens for obscure vinyl in the city: Birdel's Records, the Bed-Stuy music store where the Notorious B.I.G. learned about James Brown, is closing this Friday.

Birdel's has been around since 1944, before many of the oldies albums it now sells were even recorded. In 1957 the owner hired a new clerk named Joe Long; in the late '60s, Long bought the shop, and he's been running it ever since. Two years ago he tried to retire, but when he put up signs announcing the store's closing, he was met with such an outcry that he decided to keep it open. This time, though, he's not going to be dissuaded, and it's hard to blame him—at 73, the guy probably deserves a break.

Long is looking for someone to buy his entire 110,000-album record collection in one bundle, so if you happen to be a DJ with $25,000 to $30,000 to spare, now would be the time to hop a train to Nostrand Avenue.
· The Last Days for a Music Store Where Vinyl Has Respect [City Room]