If you grew up in Southern California in the 1970s and 1980s, there’s a good chance you spent time at a record store called Licorice Pizza. At its peak, the chain had 34 locations, until it was sold in the 1980s. But now, Licorice Pizza is being revived by music producer Kerry Brown.
Brown said he sees vinyl records as “historical document[s].” He grew up going to a Licorice Pizza location in Orange County.
“I don’t even know why those few years when I was hanging out at Licorice Pizza are some of the most vivid upfront memories still to this day. There are tones and textures of who I am today, and my DNA comes out of that store at 20 in Orange,” he shared.
Brown found success in the 1990s as part of the Smashing Pumpkins. Since that time, streaming and digital albums have largely replaced physical media. Music journalist Lyndsey Parker talked about a recent rise in popularity of vinyls.
“I think it’s just because kids, first of all, they want to define themselves by who they like. ‘I’m a Swiftie’ or ‘I’m a Charli XCX stan.’ They also want to, like, fly the flag that they’re a huge fan. Like, ‘I own 10 different versions of this vinyl,’” Parker said.
Brown acquired the Licorice Pizza apparel trademark four years ago. Now, his Studio City location includes a store and a studio.
“We have a whole ecosystem of Licorice Pizza. We have a recording studio next door. We have our vinyl processing facility in the Highland Park, El Sereno area. We do small runs for in the artists or labels, and we could do 10,000 or 20,000 runs,” he said. “I feel it’s my responsibility to help put the value back into music and not give it all away for free. Streamers is not the way to put the value back in music.”
Parker hosts events at the store.
“I host a lot of record listening parties several days before it’s come out. Kids came to a record store. They physically got in a car, went to a brick-and-mortar record store, lined up, hung out with actual people, made friends, danced all over the place to hear the Sabrina Carpenter record before it was out,” she recalled.
“Ultimately, Licorice Pizza is not just a record store. It’s a clubhouse and hangout. People come here and meet other people and I’ve seen people form bands here at this Licorice Pizza, which brings me right back to my childhood when I met my first band at Licorice Pizza,” Brown said.
Licorice Pizza Records is open seven days a week. Visit LicoricePizzaRecords.com for their latest releases, event schedule and vinyl press pricing.
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