Those days may be over, but one Dallas institution is refusing to close its doors.
Bills Records first opened a super store in North Dallas back in 1981. They’ve been in a smaller location on South Lamar for the past 4.5 years. Bill says his music sales are horrible, but he’s still holding on.
With iPods and downloads, these days, you can buy music with the click of a button. It’s a shift most record stores haven't survived.
"In a way there`s sadness, because it`s such a part of my life," said Bills Records owner Bill.
"Well, I don`t know exactly what I would do otherwise," he said.
He still stocks new releases, classics on CD and vinyl, some of music's biggest names. He does it even though he rarely sees a sole.
"Some days I`ve sat here all day long and didn`t sell anything," said Bill.
The only way Bills stays afloat is by selling inventory on eBay.
"I`m grateful that eBay came along to be a way to sell some of this stuff that I thought I’d be able to sell in the store always," said Bill.
His storefront may be open, but it really only lives online.
"I had to begin to recognize that it was never going to be the way that it used to be," he said.
It's a far cry from what Bills Records used to be; back when musicians popped in for visits.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Two Live Crew, Cyprus Hill," said Bill.
Bills still plays host to concerts every Saturday for young bands.
He says this records store plans to stay opened as long as it can.
"One day at a time, so I`m doing everything one day at time, I`m just trying to do my best every day and know that I made it this far," he said.
Bill says he does know what iTunes is, but he’s never tried it, and doesn’t see a need.
