The Entrance to House of Oldies Rare Records

The corner of Hudson & Houston has been home to SaatchiNY since the agency first arrived in America almost 25 years ago. Over the years the location has become a part of the SaatchiNY identity. Two of the SaatchiNY creatives, Jessica Raddatz & Jaclyn Marinese, put together a book about the local neighborhood to celebrate that connection. This is the second Hudson/Houston feature from the book. House of Oldies Rare Records is located @ 35 Carmine Street.

There’s a sign in the window of the House of Oldies record store on Carmine Street that reads “NO CD’s, NO TAPES.” That’s right. There are only records lining the walls of this cozy little dusty West Village record store. It’s like that for a reason.

The Owner’s Perspective

“A lot of people in their 30s, 40s, 50s remember coming to a store like this,” says owner Bob Abramson. “That’s why I haven’t changed anything. The only thing I do is paint the ceiling so the plaster doesn’t fall out. But I just try to keep it like this. I want you to feel like it’s 1960 when you walk in here.”

And that’s exactly what it does feel like. The business began on Bleecker Street in 1969 and has remained at the Carmine Street location since 1980. The late John Lennon was once a regular. Why only vinyl during a time when electronic files seem to be taking over in music? Well the answer is simple for Abramson.

“It just sounds better.” The record store is much more than just a business for him, “It’s a love of music,” he says. “You’re not selling a cold inanimate object. Music reminds people of where they were: their first kiss, their first date, their first dance. It’s a different thing. It’s a passion for vinyl.”

That type of dedication keeps customers like Robert Plant and generations of locals returning to get their record fix. It’s a shared passion that somehow manages to exist despite new technology. It remains intact, and on record.

Tags: House of Oldies, SaatchiNY