| Author | Message | ||
  Graham Finch (acooolcat) 6-Zenith Username: acooolcat Post Number: 1088 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 211.72.233.8 |
I'v heard that Bob May's second-hand record store is closing. I think they want to pull it down and make into another empty lot; just what D-town needs. | ||
Soulaholic (soulaholic) 6-Zenith Username: soulaholic Post Number: 1632 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.91.130 |
what I have not heard that at all | ||
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 6-Zenith Username: ron_murphy Post Number: 680 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.152.51 |
yes the building that Bob Mays was renting for the record shop was sold to the business next door and will be torn down for a parking lot. I understand that Bob will not relocate but will now just set up at the record shows. I want to say that Bob Mays was the first to run ad's to buy used records in Detroit and was always fair to me and sold his records to everyone at fair prices, every collector in the Detroit area along with others from all over the world got lots of great records from Bob. I've got nothing but good memories of spending many a Saturday afternoon at Bob's first store looking at and buying 100's of great records. Bob Mays sold good records for just a dollar or two he would always say " hell I only paid two cents" "so I'm making good money selling them for a dollar" THANKS BOB from your friend Ron Murphy | ||
Brian T. (mrclemma) 6-Zenith Username: mrclemma Post Number: 949 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.229.30.52 |
This is a shock. I still spend a couple of hours at Bob's on a saturday every four to six weeks. There is no one I would rather give my money to for stacks of wax. I know I've told this story before but... The only time I ever skipped school (in high school--college was a different matter), my friend John, his brother, another who I can't remember and I, hopped into John's old boat of a car and drove to Bob Mays' shop when it was on the Detroit side of 8 Mile. We spent the whole day digging through bins of records. I was looking for Pretty Things, Stones, Golden Earring, Hondells, Yardbirds, Who, Kinks and God knows what else. If only I had been hip enough to look for Northern $oul or $ome of the other record$ I love $o much the$e day$... Best of luck to you in the future, Bob. Every record geek in town is gonna miss you terribly. | ||
carl_p (carl_p) 5-Doyen Username: carl_p Post Number: 173 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 71.65.10.14 |
I talked to Bob Mays last week and feb 5 was the agreed vacate date, but bob was going to ask for an extension. Either way it's the end of an era on 8 mile rd. | ||
carl_p (carl_p) 5-Doyen Username: carl_p Post Number: 174 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 71.65.10.14 |
Here is a request from John Monaghan – Detroit Free Press: Can you post a new thread asking folks to contact me with memories, especially if they are from overseas – even Canada? My phone is 248-376-5513. (e-mail is John.Monaghan@gpschools.org) Brian T, he also asked if you could drop him an e-mail | ||
michael r. lee shue (mikey) 6-Zenith Username: mikey Post Number: 1603 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 72.141.13.181 |
Does he still have the beercan collection in the store? | ||
roy gennard (hitsville_chalky) 5-Doyen Username: hitsville_chalky Post Number: 327 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 82.37.211.13 |
I HOPE BOB STAYS OPEN LONGER. IAM BACK IN DETROIT FROM 7TH FEB TILL 15TH. REALLY SAD NEWS ABOUT THE SHOP | ||
mhc (mhc) 4-Laureate Username: mhc Post Number: 72 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 74.32.72.84 |
I have really fond memories of May's. The first day that I hung around in there Bob gave me his auction list. About a month later I caught hell from my Dad when I confessed to him that I'd spent every dime of my paycheck that week on old records that I'd won in an auction.. This was back in the early '70s, so in the first place I'm amazed (and glad) to hear that he's still alive, and sorry that I didn't make a pilgrimage to the store whenever I visited Detroit over all these years. | ||
Jim G (jim_g) 5-Doyen Username: jim_g Post Number: 218 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.12.117.14 |
I stumbled upon Mays' store in 1968, part of my weekend pilgrimage to every record store in Det. Bob's place was the archetypal funky vinyl shop: had that kinda old smokey funky LP cover smell...stacks of hot wax EVERYWHERE...I was mining for Bird/Tatum/Duke gold...lot of that stuff was hard to come by in '68. Bob and, I think, his mom ran the shop, Bob almost always had a beer close at hand. I remember hanging out there watching folks come in with piles of 78s they KNEW were worth a FORTUNE, and walking out with 5 cents a record or whatever Bob offered...it was funny, obvious no-one was going to schlepp those heavy shellac stacks all the way back to the basement... Mays' is the type of store the old jazz collector guys talked about. Most of them are gone too. | ||
michael r. lee shue (mikey) 6-Zenith Username: mikey Post Number: 1605 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 72.141.13.181 |
Does Bob have dentures now? | ||
Soulaholic (soulaholic) 6-Zenith Username: soulaholic Post Number: 1633 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.91.130 |
what the hell does that mean? | ||
michael r. lee shue (mikey) 6-Zenith Username: mikey Post Number: 1607 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 72.141.13.181 |
Hi Soulaholic: The last time I saw Bob (appx. 15 years ago) he could have used some dentures.I think a lot of teeth were missing. | ||
Brian T. (mrclemma) 6-Zenith Username: mrclemma Post Number: 987 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.229.30.101 |
Mikey, You got an extra pair for him? Soulie, How you doin'? | ||
carl_p (carl_p) 5-Doyen Username: carl_p Post Number: 178 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 71.65.10.14 |
here's a brief video of bob's store taken jan 17th. i only see a few beer cans left. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =F2p51pUJIxk | ||
Motown_Fan (motown_fan) 6-Zenith Username: motown_fan Post Number: 743 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 75.66.38.199 |
Sounds like I missed out on this experience by living inside the Detroit city limits. Heck, I didn't even know about buying old records until the 1980s. Before then, I thought once it was gone or worn out - that was it. Sorry to hear that another part of so many peoples' history is going to be gone. | ||
StingBeeLee (stingbeelee) 4-Laureate Username: stingbeelee Post Number: 110 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 155.139.50.15 |
There is a nice article in today's Detroit Free Press on Bob's store: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=2007701260372 I was just in there yesterday and per usual, found some great finds: A mid-sixties Marvin Gaye album, the Chocker Campbell album, a Bill Withers greatest hits album on Sussex records, and the promotional 'heart' shaped 45 for "Pops We Love You". Bob was more than fair when it came to pricing; I never argued with him about his prices, those that did did so at their own peril. He played some comedy records for me and a yodel record! I'm going to miss the record shop more than I can say. | ||
Jim G (jim_g) 5-Doyen Username: jim_g Post Number: 219 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.69 |
Wish I had a video cam...a video of Bob just doing his thing would be priceless. Buying, Selling, Talking... | ||
Brian T. (mrclemma) 6-Zenith Username: mrclemma Post Number: 1043 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.229.30.136 |
I just went by there for an hour before closing tonight and picked up a lot of gospel and hillbilly. It makes me sick to think about that store closing. Bob will not bullsh** you and if you're straight with him he'll be more than fair with you. Hitsville Chalky, Bob may still be open when you arrive. I believe he has to be out on the 15th. | ||
marv (marv) 6-Zenith Username: marv Post Number: 797 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.12.117.14 |
This not good news at all. Years ago when I worked on 8 Mile at Greenfield Rd/Southfield I would stop over at the store and pick some really hard to find things. Unfortunately this type of thing seems to be the trend everywhere these days. Here in New York it is all about current market rates for property and nothing more..... | ||
oldiesmusicfan (oldiesmusicfan) 6-Zenith Username: oldiesmusicfan Post Number: 3847 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 71.65.20.184 |
Roy Gennard, you are mentioned in that article that StingBeeLee posted the link to above and yes, the shop will still be open till the 15th, so you can make one last visit there when you come to the Detroit area on the 7th. Oldies | ||
roy gennard (hitsville_chalky) 5-Doyen Username: hitsville_chalky Post Number: 328 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 82.37.211.13 |
THANKS OLDIES , THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR ME, BUT AFTER THE 15TH IT WILL BE SO SAD TO SEE BOBS SHOP CLOSE. I THINK IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF WE COULD ALL ARRANGE TO MEET UP AT BOBS BEFORE IT CLOSES ANY ONE INTRESTED IN MEETING BETWEEN 7TH FEB TILL 15TH. | ||
Brian T. (mrclemma) 6-Zenith Username: mrclemma Post Number: 1052 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.229.42.116 |
Roy, Contact Soulaholic. | ||
Graham Finch (acooolcat) 6-Zenith Username: acooolcat Post Number: 1091 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 211.72.233.8 |
Carl, many thanks for the video. It's good to see Bob again - he look just the same as he did 10 years ago. | ||
carl_p (carl_p) 5-Doyen Username: carl_p Post Number: 184 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 71.65.10.14 |
Your welcome Graham and i agree he looks the same. |
