Downtown Phoenix landmark set to close

Posted on 21. Dec, 2009 by Tony Arranaga in News

A Phoenix landmark will close its doors after nearly four decades in business.  Circles Discs and Tapes, located at the corner of Central and McKinley and next to the lightrail, will remain open until the end of the year, according to store employees.  The enployees also said the owner is selling the building, which sits just south of the Roosevelt station.  Read about the store and its demise here.  Many of the Central Phoenix businesses endured at least a year (if not more) of construction detours while crews built the transit system.  Earlier today, I asked one of the employees, Zak Sofaly, if the light rail hurt business.  Here is Sofaly’s reply in its entirety:

“I don’t think it affected the business at all.  And I don’t think ASU being here really helped business either.  They kinda just cancelled each other out.  Just the decline over the last five years of record sales was our demise, it wasn’t anything that city planning did.”

Ask any Phoenix native and they’ll tell you  the current Circles building was the home of  The Phoenix Motor Company back in the day.  What’s next?  Employees say the owners are in their 80′s and are done working.  As for the employees, Zak will now rely on his side gig, moonlighting as a drummer for the local band Incite.  You can find the band online here.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for some great deals on music, head to Circles.  The store is taking 30 percent off everything with a white tag.   Sofaly pointed out some great finds like boxed collectors sets from the Beattles, Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis – all discounted for the store closing.  See the sets here and just in case you’re in the mood to do more shopping, see other great gift ideas at other local stores along the light rail here.

On a personal note, I hate seeing business close in my neighborhood.  I’ve come to appreciate the small businesses around Central Phoenix, and how collectively they create a more vibrant community.  I didn’t realize this when while driving.  Living carfree, I’ve become friends with many of the owners of these mom and pop businesses.  You hear the stories, and how life savings were poured into these businesses that together give Phoenix such great character.

And while we’re talking about businesses that are closing, the economy is not all doom and gloom in our urban core.  In the last three months alone,  five new businesses opened along or near the light rail.  If you’re a business owner or you know someone who is – please point them to a recent post by guest blogger Jim McPherson.  McPherson wrote a hot list on 10 ways to promote business along the lightrail.  What are some of your suggestions that can help business owners bring more traffic through their doors?

Tags: business, Circles Discs and Tapes, Downtown, Downtown Voices Coalition, Jim McPherson, local, METRO, Phoenix, rail