Cutler’s Closing Doors

by Staff | May 16, 2012 5:40 pm

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Posted to: Business/ Economic Development

One last blow-out of sound is beginning on Broadway, as the famed Cutler’s Record Shop prepares to close its doors. Phil Cutler, the third-generation family member who runs the record and CD emporium, announced Wednesday that the store is going into “retirement”—and celebrating that fact with a final sale. Cutler’s grandparents Nat and Lee opened Cutler’s in 1948 at 41 Broadway. It moved a few doors down to 33 Broadway in 1953, stayed there until 1999, then moved over to 27 Broadway as part of Yale’s upgrading of the commercial district. Cutler’s’ rise mirrored the rise of rock and roll and modern jazz and the golden age of 45 and 33 rpm records. Like Pepe’s and Sally’s, Louis Lunch, East and West Rocks, and that Ivy League school with the Gothic castles, the store has been a defining local landmark and institution ever since. Phil Cutler said this in a press release issued late Wednesday: ““Although this could be viewed as a sad day, the Cutler’s family is looking at it as a celebration of 64 years of fulfilling the music needs of the Yale community and Connecticut. I would like to think Cutler’s was as valuable to New Haven, as New Haven was to Cutler’s.” (Click here to read the release.) The plan is to keep the store open until the end of June with an “everything must go” sale. Everything from headphones to compact discs will go for 25 percent off. Advice from Chicago voting precincts may be in order: Show up early and often.

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posted by: HhE on May 16, 2012 7:38pm Bummer.

posted by: getyourfactstraight on May 16, 2012 7:56pm Although it certainly is a celebration to the Cutler family and their gleaming success….we New Haveners love that establishment and I am sadden by their closing. However, I wish the Cutler family many years of happiness and fond memories of being located in New Haven.

All my best!

Elaine Braffman

posted by: OccupyTheClassroom I wonder what corporation is going in? Chipotle? Panera? Starbux? In case you didn’t notice, Broadway Liquor is gone. Yale is gentrifying downtown.

posted by: robn on May 16, 2012 9:28pm Cutlers is dead. Long Live Vinyl!!!!

posted by: Dracula is AWESOME on May 16, 2012 9:29pm This is heartbreaking.

posted by: anonymous on May 16, 2012 9:37pm I would love to see a Tiffany, Lululemon, or Coach store here. Other than Apple, these stores have among the highest sales per square foot which means that City Hall can get more tax revenue to support its educational and public safety services.

posted by: stuckinNH on May 16, 2012 9:55pm like all the other good things in NewHaven—gone but not forgotten. Thank you Cutler family—good luck and god bless!!!

posted by: SLP on May 16, 2012 10:08pm A shame! This is one of the special places that makes New Haven New Haven.

posted by: Stylo on May 16, 2012 11:32pm This is such a shame. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone took over the spot and kept it going as a music store? I’m ALL for the Apple’s and the Urban Outfitter’s of the world to be in New Haven - as a strong retail pull is VERY important… but Cutler’s is one of those shops that makes NH “cool”, a little indie and worth going out of the way for. I know I made a special trip to NH just to buy vinyl at Cutler’s several times. You just can’t get that in many other places. Red Scroll in Wallingford is one, but I’m closer to NH and it has way more after-shopping eatery options. Really too bad. Hope someone fills the music store void in the city!

posted by: newhavenlocal on May 17, 2012 6:59am I feel torn about this news. Am I the only one who had negative experiences with Cutler’s? Yes, I am sad that some national chain type of store will go in, but I feel negatively about the way they treated some local artists and frankly not altogether sad that they are closing up shop.

posted by: Larry Dorman on May 17, 2012 9:25am Well said, Elaine. I’m happy for the Cutler family leaving on their terms, but I’m saddened by the closing of a wonderful and independently owned landmark. This is a loss for music fans and for all of us who fear the continued encroachment of the franchise economy.

posted by: davecoon on May 17, 2012 10:43am Great. Now where will I buy my bobble-heads?

There are still great record stores out there. Try Redscroll in Wallingford or Replay in Hamden.

Vinyl is archival. Back to Mono.

posted by: Joshua Mamis on May 17, 2012 12:13pm Yes, it is sad that Cutler’s is closing. And I can’t help but feel a little responsible. I stopped buying CDs long ago, even used ones, in favor of paying for digital downloads. I wandered by and noted that Phil was trying his best to be innovative—selling used audio equipment that would play the vinyl that he sold to cater to a small community of audiophiles, for example. Cutler’s closing is a wake-up call that if we want a city with local, independent businesses, especially those with a rich history, we need to support them.

posted by: Exile-In-Westbrook on May 17, 2012 1:51pm Oh no!!! This was my favorite store in New Haven!! I hope they put those records they don’t sell to good new homes.

posted by: Curious on May 17, 2012 2:22pm Anon, I don’t know if New Haven could support Tiffany or Coach, but maybe Lululemon….or an Anthropologie.