Sea Level Records to Close

Kevin Bronson at the LA Times Buzz Bands Blog broke some very sad news to the East Side over the weekend.  Sea Level Records, a wonderful, truly independent record store in Echo Park, is set to close its doors on June 30. 

Kevin Bronson writes:

Sea Level Records, the independent outlet that in 5 1/2 years had become a locus for Los Angeles' Eastside music scene, will close June 30, owner Todd Clifford said. "It's not so much competition as the fact I want my life back," said Clifford, 32, who runs the store, at 1716 Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park, with the help of just one part-time employee. "Yes, it's been a struggle. But each year has been better than the last. It just got to be too much for me."

The loss is huge, not only for the greatness of the selection, staff (anyone who hires Jeff Weiss one day a week is on to something) and amazing in-stores, but also as it was one of few alternatives in LA to Amoeba Records.

Comments

[Jeff]

I should've known that anyone who would hire me would be out of business within weeks. Next , the LA Times. It's a sad day though for the eastside with Sea Level shutting down.

[Mappy Mapperson]

Echo Park is to the west of downtown.

Therefore, Echo Park is not "the Eastside."

Get a map.

[Relly Relevancy]

Echo Park is east of Vermont, so yes, Mappy, it is "the Eastside".