Mike Chlanda, in front of his store Margarita Music. PHOTO BY DIANE CHIDDISTER

Music store is back in business

Villagers seeking a hard-to-find jazz CD or a classic rock album don’t have to go far to find them — Margarita Music is back in business.

“I want people to know we’re open again,” owner Mikey Chlanda said of his Dayton Street business. “Lots of people don’t know.”

Margarita Music, which has served local music lovers for many years, was closed several weeks last fall by the State for alleged nonpayment of $17,195 in state taxes. However, Chlanda said, the estimated amount the business owed was wildly off base, and in fact he only owed several hundred dollars for a period of nonpayment that took place several years ago following a surgery.

The State opened the store again after negotiating with his lawyer, said Chlanda, who also owns the Yellow Springs Freeze.

Business has been slow following the store’s reopening, he said. Store hours are noon to 7 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and noon to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

Recently, the store added more new vinyl LP’s, especially classic rock, alternative and punk music. Music companies are producing more vinyl because some listeners consider the vinyl sound to be “warmer” than a typical CD sound, said Chlanda, who said some of the new LP’s are classic Beatles recordings. The store currently holds about 15,000 to 20,000 vinyl LP’s, both new and used, and about 45,000 vinyl 45’s. It also carries several thousand CD’s, especially rock and alternative music, along with t-shirts and jewelry, and has recently added new punk rock CD’s.

Most of his customers tend to be young people from the Dayton area, Chlanda said, although middle-aged people who collect jazz are also frequent buyers. Currently, he does about 90 percent of his business on eBay or Amazon.com, auctioning hard-to-find music.

Chlanda began his business 13 years ago in Kings Yard as Margaritaville, specializing in cards and t-shirts. Gradually, the music end of his business took off and he changed the name to Margarita Music and moved to Dayton Street a couple of years ago.

—Diane Chiddister