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Independent Records could close any day now, staff given last chance to save it

Workers say money raised so far is not nearly enough
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COLORADO SPRINGS — Independent Records, a staple in our community for 45 years, is facing the possibility of closing down forever.

As News5 reported last month, the store only two weeks left. Workers said the landlord is giving them one last chance to save it.

So they are holding a fundraiser event Saturday 9/8 from 10am to 8pm. Located at the store, there will be music, comedians and food vendors.

But it could close its doors any day.

"Hoping for a miracle at this point," said assistant manager Emily Gehrung. "I want the people to know that the people working here currently have tried everything possible."

Manager Hollie Sherwood said they need to raise $100,000 to save the store. Right now, they only have a few thousand.

Sherwood said pure sales "is supporting the store as it stands now but it's not supporting this cause."

But if sales plummet, that's it said Sherwood.

Bill Webb has been going to Independent Records since he was a kid.

"I hear they're trying to stay open so maybe they will, I haven't given up on them," said Webb.

Gehrung said business has been slow since the pandemic and getting inventory has been hard. "Even regular shopping is what is going to help us."

For so many, it's not just a record store.

"My dad took me here when I was a kid to get my first record, it was just a place to go, my dad was cool, I thought whatever he did was cool so this place was cool," said the store's DJ Mike Dewitt.

The thought of this place gone, he said is almost too hard to deal with.

"It's really tugging on the strings, all of my memories here are good, I don't want to break that record, it's not a pleasant thing to think about," said Dewitt.

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