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Music Lovers Rejoice: Saki Opens in Logan Square

By Kim Bellware in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 2, 2010 9:30PM

We’ll admit we have it pretty lucky in Chicago with regard to record stores. While some locales are limited to whatever Target or Best Buy will stock, our city enjoys options aplenty from outlets like Reckless Records, Permanent Rex and Laurie’s Planet of Sound, to name a few. With this past weekend’s opening of Saki, the new retail store from Carrot Top Distributions, that local record store community just got a little bigger.

Housed in Carrot Top’s headquarters in Logan Square, Saki is spacious and inviting, complete with a fireplace, toy displays and spots for lounging and ‘zine perusing. And much like the Andersonville-based Transistor, Saki mixes in a little bit of art gallery, electronics boutique and bookstore in with their more traditional record vending. Limited-run or otherwise hard-to-find titles are stocked with more familiar music and culture publications like Mojo, Bust and the 33 1/3 book series. The selection of music accessories, turntables and band posters and t-shirts is small but growing quickly.

General Manager Allison Wasilewski promises that their collection of used CDs and LPs is forthcoming, but for now we’re pretty excited about Saki’s current selection. A quick browse through the store revealed rare albums, amazing foreign compilations, current best-sellers, old classics and plenty of Chicago-based rarities (Coctails, anyone?).

With plenty of stuff to sell and an abundance of knowledgeable staff eager to chat about music, Saki also managed to break in their removable in-store stage that hosted the likes of White Mystery, Love of Everything, Daniel Knox and others all weekend. The in-store performance by local artists both known and unknown are slated to become a regular happening, with Wasilewski hinting at readings and other community events as well.

The opening celebration continues this weekend with more in-store performances, starting with Astronomer at 6 p.m. this Saturday and Jon Langford at 4 p.m. Sunday. For now, we're overlooking the gloomy forecast that pervades the music industry and are instead more than happy to focus on this bright spot and welcome Saki to its new home.

Saki is located at 3716 W. Fullerton Ave