Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — At a record store in Bow Market, not only can customers browse and buy a variety of vinyl, but they can also enjoy cocktails and other drinks made by the bar next door.
Vinyl Index is one of the over 30 small businesses at Bow Market in Somerville, and the store said that their unusual combination of music and alcohol makes for an enjoyable experience for customers.
“It’s been a pretty good way to get people to hang out, listen to vinyl, get a drink, [and] just loosen up a little bit,” said Chris Rogers, who works there.
In between the store’s bins of vinyl is a 10-foot bar area with stools and communal bench seating where customers can order drinks. The bar next door, Nook, makes the drinks and delivers them to Vinyl Index.
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Chris shared the ingredients of a drink called Garage Party, which has rum, Campari, pineapple, tang, and lime served over crushed ice.
Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
The two stores are able to collaborate in this way because of the particular liquor license situation at Bow Market.
Many of the stores operate under a single liquor license owned and centrally managed by Bow Market, which allows alcoholic drinks to be transported more freely within the space.
Bow Market explained in a statement that this setup “allows multiple businesses access to the economic benefits offered by a liquor license without needing to pay the upfront cost of obtaining a license on their own.”
Additionally, the City of Somerville “does not need to allocate more than one of their limited licenses to Bow Market.”
Vinyl Index is also technically part of the bar. It was added as part of Nook’s premises, which in turn is considered one of the “managers” under the umbrella of Bow Market and its central liquor license.
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The record store described itself as “a bright and welcoming record store with a distinctive and diverse selection” that offers vinyl from a wide variety of genres: indie, hip hop, soul, jazz, soundtracks, electronic, and more.
Chris talked about a few of the many records they have to offer. “I have the first White Stripes record here. I’ve been playing that a lot today. I have the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, which is actually incredible.”
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
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