EASTHAMPTON, Mass. - Platterpus Records is hoping their music store will continue to create interest from older and younger audiences as the shop celebrates its 40th anniversary.
The record store started in Westfield in 1982 and later moved to Easthampton in 2010.
Founder and owner Dave Witthaus said he's been in love with vinyl since he got his first job at a record store when he was 15 years old and enjoys everything about the art from the unique sounds to the packaging of the material.
"I can remember going into a record store when I was a kid," said Witthaus. "And you can't wait to get home and open the record and see what's inside. See if there's lyrics or whatever and of course playing the music that's on the record."
Witthaus said records stores aren’t as popular as they were 20 years ago because people can find music in a variety of places now and only a handful of shops are still in business locally.
He said a commitment to being authentic and not catering to a particular niche or demographic of music has kept his store in business.
"I am what I am. I don't try to be anything other than what I am," Witthaus said. "I am not trying to be a young guy or a super old guy. I just am what I am and I think there is an authenticity that's going on."
Witthaus said the shop has seen a recent boom of interest from younger fans with many of them enjoying the particular quality of sound, and said he plans to keep his store open until the classic style of music is no longer relevant.