A mainstay on 18th Street NW, Crooked Beat Records may be leaving D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood, its home since 2004.
That’s according to an update owner Bill Daly posted on the shop’s Facebook page Thursday. Daly says he is looking into a new location for the record store because of poor conditions at 2116 18th St. NW.
“There have been issues with our building that have progressively gotten worse that I will not elaborate on,” Daly writes. “I work very long hours in this space and it has come to light that some of the existing problems are affecting my health.”
The proprietor says he recently turned down a long-term extension on Crooked Beat’s lease because of the building’s issues. “… even with efforts to remedy the problems with this old building, the attempted repairs have not been sufficient and the issues continue to persist,” Daly writes.
Crooked Beat Records, which also runs a record label by the same name, was once one of four record stores in Adams Morgan. Neighbors Red Onion Records and Joint Custody both moved to U Street NW. Smash Records still operates on 18th Street, less than two blocks north of Crooked Beat.
According to his Facebook post, the shop owner is considering a move to H Street NE, or possibly Northern Virginia if he can’t find affordable space in the District.
Daly did not immediately return a request for comment.
Top photo by Flickr user Rick Phillips used under a Creative Commons license.