.Golden Years

For more on Streetlight Records’ big anniversary, read Gary Singh’s story on its roots in San Francisco and San Jose.

I remember the first time I walked into Streetlight Records. It was July 2002 (exactly 23 years and one day to the date of this publishing), I was 18 years old and had recently graduated from high school in Southern California.

My then girlfriend and I were on a statewide road trip following the punk band The Distillers, with one of the shows at the Vets Hall. I had already been accepted to UC Santa Cruz and took the trip as an opportunity to explore the city where I was going to live for the next four years.

Walking into the store was like coming home.

By that time I was already a record collector—with my passion for music and records passed down from my dad—but my bland suburban hometown didn’t have any stores. When Amoeba Hollywood opened at the end of 2001 it was like walking through the pearly gates of St. Peter.

But Streetlight was different.

It wasn’t nearly as large as the Amoeba—which took up half a block at the original location—but still big enough to boast an impressive collection of every genre along with DVDs. It was homey in the best sense of the word and I knew right then and there I wanted to work at Streetlight, even if for just a little while.

In the words of John Lennon, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,” and my journey to working at our local record store took a few twists until I landed the gig in 2007. Little did I know not only would I still be working there 18 years later, but it would be the longest job I’ve ever had (with journalism as a close second).

Reflecting on what it means to work at a company that’s lasted 50 years (the golden anniversary), which seems like hundreds in our constantly changing, everything-must-be-new society, a few things have come up.

First, Streetlight is an institution. After all, what would downtown Santa Cruz be without Streetlight Records? Because beyond being just a store, it’s a community.

“Record stores function as gathering places for like-minded people to meet and hang out with one another,” explains Rob “Z” Zvaleko. Since 1997 Z has been the store’s classical music guru and before Streetlight he worked at HMV on 72nd and Broadway in New York.

“It’s a community thing. Bookstores and record stores have always been a Mecca for people to come and share their thoughts and tastes. Texting and online [conversations] isn’t the same as getting into a debate with someone in person.”

Streetlight Records Santa Cruz manager Roger Weiss agrees. He originally started with the company in Noe Valley and moved to the Santa Cruz store when it opened.

“[It’s about] spreading the gospel of music,” he says. “Sharing my tastes and being exposed to new music from customers and employees.”

Which brings us to a second point about Streetlight Records and why so many of us have been here so long: it’s a family atmosphere.

Ok, normally when a company says, “We’re a family here” it’s a good time to go the opposite way. And sure, there are some past employees who would argue otherwise. However, it’s been my experience for almost 20 years.

At the end of the day we’re coworkers, but there’s a deeper bond that connects us. We care for each other. We celebrate our wins, family members’ successes, and come together when tragedy strikes one of us. And just like any family, we bicker often as well, but if anyone tries to cross one of us, we back each other up wholeheartedly. Working here, I’ve made lifelong friends out of current—and ex—employees and customers.

For Emily Farris—one of Streetlight’s newer, younger employees, who’s been with the company for two and a half years—it’s the connection that interests her the most.

“I really appreciate it,” she explains. “Hearing everyone talk about the history of them working here for over 25 years. They are talking about a time before I was even born, but they say it like it wasn’t that long ago. It makes me feel small but also a part of something so much bigger because of all the history.”

Which brings us to the third and final point that sums up the first two.

Streetlight is bigger than any of us and a staple in the heart of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruzans. How many bands wouldn’t exist if they hadn’t put a flier up looking for members on one of the two bulletin boards? Think of all the movie nights that never would have happened without the rows of DVDS. One of my beloved friend’s sisters was even married in the store (which, coincidentally, I was there for years before I ever knew them).

While today’s algorithms suggest what we listen to, there’s something magical about taking a chance on buying a record based just on the cover, because something about it just calls to you. And when it’s a dud, hey, at least you were brave enough to take the chance.

That’s why record stores are still so important and why they’ve seen a resurgence in the last several years. Long after the media declared physical copies dead, people are still buying LPs, CDs and even cassettes. A record store allows us the freedom to pause, breathe and reflect while digging through the dusty bins of lifelong companions and possible new friends.

And hey, who knows? You might just discover something you love—or hate—and will be able to share it with those around you, impacting someone else’s life in ways you never knew you could.

So happy birthday, Streetlight Records. Thank you for the long, strange trip it’s been, working in your concrete and metal walls. In the immortal words of the alien himself, David Bowie, “Nothing’s gonna touch you in these golden years.”

Streetlight Records celebrates its 50th anniversary at 3pm on July 27 with a show by the band Cohesion at the store, 939 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 408-429-9200.