Shake, Rattle & Read Is Celebrating Its 50th Anniversary And Closing Up Shop
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 20, 2015 9:55PM
The well known record and book store just around the corner from The Riv and Aragon in Uptown is closing. It's going to be a long goodbye though for Shake, Rattle & Read, who will tie the closing with a celebration of their 50th anniversary early next year.
Opened in 1966, the shop was originally called The Book Box and stood between two legendary establishments also still around, the Green Mill and Uptown Theater (though only Green Mill is currently operational). Current owner and long time manager Ric Addy took over twenty years later and transformed the spot into the rock and roll mecca that we know it as today. We'd often see photos of Addy on his Facebook page with bands and musicians who stopped by while in town on tour (The Ramones, Iggy Pop, Clash guitarist Mick Jones, just to name a few), many playing venues just down the block.
“It’s time,” Addy said in a Facebook post announcing the news. “At age 64, and after 30 years in the same location, I’m looking for new adventures. I need to take time to go see the rest of the world and be with my family and friends in Michigan and Florida. I’ll miss all of my friends in Chicago, but I won’t miss the winters.”
In honor of the anniversary, the store will bring back its annual sale that discounts items the same number of years the store has been open. That means 50 percent off all books, used records and magazines while new vinyl LPs will be discounted by 25 percent. The exact date of the sale will be announced in January, and Addy promises much more to come.
We'll be sad to see the Shake, Rattle & Read go, but we're glad we have the opportunity to give them a proper send off. And pick up some killer vinyl along the way.