New Record Stores Preserve Customer Loyalty

When customers walk through the doors of The Exclusive Company, the earthy smell of incense and the subtle sounds of music fill their senses as they navigate through aisles of records, CDs and movies. 

For five and a half years, Bella Charles worked at this record store’s Greenfield location. Earlier this year while Charles was working, her manager answered a phone call from the company’s higher ups. After he hung up, she could tell something was wrong.  

“I pulled him aside and asked, ‘Is everything okay?’” Charles said. “I made a joke and asked ‘Oh, is the store closing or something?’” Shortly after, Charles’ manager pulled her and her coworkers aside to break the sudden news.  

Following the death of its owner, James Giombetti, The Exclusive Company announced that it was closing after 66 years in business. The record store chain had seven locations throughout Wisconsin, and all of them closed their doors within months. 

It was the end of The Exclusive Company but only the beginning for new record stores that would take its place.  

Jennifer Young was a long-time customer of The Exclusive Company, and she took it upon herself start a new, independently owned record store. Her store, Volta Records, opened in July in the same space where The Exclusive Company used to be.  

“It has been pretty overwhelming and moving to see all of the support and interest from the community,” said Young. “It has been so surprising, but in the greatest way.” 

Although there have been subtle updates in the store’s appearance, customers can expect to see the same faces they’ve grown to know behind the register and around the store.  

“For The Exclusive Company to have such longevity in the community, I wanted to keep a lot the same,” said Young, “especially the employees, they are the heart of this place.” 

Another new, independent record store that emerged after The Exclusive Company closed is Lilliput Records, located near the corner of Farwell Avenue and Brady Street on Milwaukee’s East Side. Like Volta Records, there are a lot of similarities between this new business and the old store. 

“The Exclusive Company wasn’t broken,” said Tanner Musgrove, owner of Lilliput Records. “That wasn’t the reason for them closing so we are comfortable keeping the same model.” 

What sets this record store apart from The Exclusive Company are the collaborations and events they’ve held with other local businesses and artists. The store has a new lounge area for the community to relax in after browsing the store. 

“One of our main goals of this store was to do away with the corporate feel that The Exclusive Company had,” said Musgrove.  

Liliput Records won the title of Shepherd Express’s “Best of MKE: New Retail Store Opened in 2022” and was a finalist in the “Best Record Store” category.