Origami Vinyl, the beloved neighborhood record shop nestled on Sunset in Echo Park, will cease to exist as we've known it today. Instead, it's been taken over by Chicago-based Permanent Records and will now operate as 'Permanent Records Echo Park.' This will be the second Permanent location in Los Angeles; the first opened in Eagle Rock in 2011 (it's now in Highland Park).

The closure was announced in a post on the blog Portable-Intimate this afternoon, which says:

Today marks the end of Origami Vinyl. Over the last 7 years we have thoroughly enjoyed all of your patronage, high fives, and support. While this may come as a surprise to many of you, it has been something I've been thinking about for the past year. It is time for me to move on to new challenges and adventures and I will cherish every moment, relationship, and experience the shop has given me. Origami Vinyl started as a childhood dream for me and I feel so fortunate to have lived out that dream. Even though Origami Vinyl will cease to exist today, the space will continue on as a record shop. Our good friends, Lance and Liz from Permanent Records in Highland Park (and Chicago) will be taking over the shop and are open for business as you read this. If you aren't familiar with them, you will be. Their ethos of running a record shop are in line with what Origami was about. They are extremely passionate about the local community and the local music scene. I'm excited for you to get to know them and become friends with them. Their vision for the future of the space is incredible and will be a destination for vinyl enthusiasts. I couldn't imagine passing this on to anyone else. Please save the date of March 26th as Origami and Permanent will host a joint event at the shop where we'll have bands, bevvies, and a hello/goodbye hug/high five sesh. Stay tuned to our instagrams for more details. @origamivinyl @permanentrecordsla I want to take the time to thank everyone who has worked at the shop, Sean S., Emily, Thomas, Christine, Bennett, Angel, Simone, Ian, Sam, Brandon T., Brandon H., Matt, Sean F., Jeff, Morgan, and Katie. Big props to all of you who have interned, painted, hammered, helped us at FYF, etc. I love all of you and thanks for helping me to realize the dream of owning a record shop. Emily will still host Record Club at El Prado on Tuesday nights. Follow her on instagram at @recordclubla Their new hours starting today are:

Sunday - Thursday :: Noon ’til 8pm

Friday - Saturday :: Noon ’til 10pm? As of today, Origami Vinyl gift certificates will not be accepted and are void. If you have consignment at the shop, you have until March 20th to come pick up your stuff and get paid out. After that it will be considered a donation and will become property of Permanent Records. You can contact Emily if you haven't heard from her already.

Hm ok; so it's not just plain old bad news after all. There'll still be a place to buy solid records from a brick and mortar in the neighborhood, and the (in)famous Record Club at El Prado will apparently continue on (bring a record to play on Tuesday nights and get a free drink in return).

Here's Permanent Records LA confirming the announcement on Instagram:

Origami was opened in 2009 by Neil Schield and has been a mainstay in the neighborhood over the last seven years; it wasn't just a place to browse records and catch an intimate live show, but the kind of spot you could randomly pop in to and shoot the shit with whomever might be working behind the counter that day.

Over the years, Origami hosted some solid Record Store Days, and of course, in-store performances held in the loft. Like this one with Youth Lagoon from 2011:

Best of luck to the old Origami crew.