Cutler's to Close After 64 Years

The New Haven landmark will stay open through June.

A New Haven landmark is closing its doors.

After 64 years on Broadway, Cutler's Record Shop will shut down for good at the end of June, according to a release issued by Phil Cutler Wednesday.

His grandparents, Nat Cutler and his wife Lee opened the record store at 41 Broadway in 1948. The store grew quickly, and in 1953 moved down the street to its best-known location at 33 Broadway.

Music fans from all over Greater New Haven bought their records from Cutler's. The store adapted with the times, from 78 rpm, to 45 rpm and 33 rpm records, cassette tapes and finally compact discs. But mp3 files and the internet changed music-buying forever, so Cutler's will retire, as Phil Cutler said in the release.

"Although this could be viewed as a sad day, the Cutler's family is looking at it as a celebration of 64 years of fulfilling the music needs of the Yale community and Connecticut," Phil Cutler said. "I would like to think Cutler's was as valuable to New Haven, as New Haven was to Cutler's."

The store has been at 27 Broadway since 1999 when it moved as part of Yale Properties revitalization of the area.

"This is an end of an era," said Abigail Rider, Director of University Properties.

The store's closing was first reported in the New Haven Independent Wednesday afternoon.

Cutler's will begin a closeout sale beginning Friday, selling everything from CDs, vinyl records, headphones and hard-to-find items at 25-percent off.

"So please come down, help us celebrate, and pick up a piece of history," Cutler said.

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