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In a serious blow to DC vinyl junkies, Clarendon’s Orpheus Records is shutting its doors, likely before the end of the year.
“Our lease is up, and the landlord’s informed us that he’s not renewing,” says Richard Carlisle, Orpheus’ proprietor of 34 years. The lease actually expires April 1, although it may be extended on a month-to-month basis depending on how quickly the store can liquidate its stock.
Business, Carlisle says, has been just fine, but he is not scouting a new location for the store: “I moved it out here from Georgetown nine years ago and it almost killed me,” he says. “I promised myself that I’d stay here as long as I could and that would be that. If I could snap my fingers and be somewhere else without the move, and with the customers following, I’d do it, but I think it’s time.”
Meanwhile, most items in the store (not including new releases or CDs) have been marked down 30 percent for clearance.