Dodds, 20 S. Division

Update 2/11/14 ~ Dodd's gets new life! 

Update 12/5/13 ~ some new hours and a facebook page:

 I don't know if there is new ownership involved

but Gerry's picture is on the facebook page. More to come.

Update 12/12/12:  Saw this sign on the door - I'm a little sad.

I’ve driven by a thousand times but with no parking on the street, an impromptu stop was never in the cards. But now I walk past the shop three times a week and finally ducked in.

It’s a man alone with his stacks and shelves of LPs (along with some cassettes and CDs). Gerry Dodds opened the store in the 1950s and still runs it, seven days a week.  Yes, that’s right. Everyday. He says that’s what keeps him going. I’m guessing he’s in his 80s but I don’t know that for sure.

Gerry will respond if you speak to him but is not chatty by any means. He allowed me take his picture but wouldn’t look at the camera. He is interested in buying albums, particularly rock, blues, and jazz, and when I mentioned I have a few hundred at home, he perked up nicely.

The shop is a treasure trove of music and hours could easily be spent here. It’s unlikely you will find an new vinyl Beatles recording, and I’m quite sure collectors have thoroughly picked through the store over the years. But on the other hand, new purchases come in regularly and you’ll never know what you might find. This is assuming you still have your turn table :)

Trucker Songs Category!

Used albums are shrink-wrapped so you can’t examine your purchase but c’est la vie. And if you’re wondering where to get a new phonograph needle, here’s your place. I have to visit again, even if I’m just looking for album covers to frame or trying to get Gerry to talk to me a bit more - he must have stories to tell...

The Beat Goes On is also still in business here in Grand Rapids (update ~ closed in 2013). See that posting here:
The Beat Goes On