START TODAY:
How one local record
store is doing business -
and honoring community -
in the time of COVID-19
"My first reaction to Richmond staying closed was relief."
It was never Bobby Egger's plan to reopen his record store, Vinyl Conflict, on May 15th. That's when the rest of Virginia was scheduled to move into Phase One of the state's COVID-19 reopening plan - meaning stores like Egger's could reopen to the public, with restrictions.
"My biggest fear through the last eight weeks was one of my employees getting sick," Egger said. For him, that fear is still valid - "we don't know who has what."
Ultimately, Egger's choice didn't make much of a difference for the store. Due to rising case numbers, Richmond's reopening was delayed. Businesses across the city - hairdressers, restaurants, tattoo parlors - that had worked countless hours preparing to reopen were suddenly left hanging.
Vinyl Conflict wasn't.
Since March, Egger and his two employees have worked extensively to keep the store in business while forced to close to the public. And when it all started, he wasn't even in the U.S..
"We really had to jar ourselves."
In early March, Egger was in the United Kingdom to buy new stock for the store. It was set to be a pretty routine trip - but routine was headed out the window in a matter of days.
When the U.S. announced that England would be added to the no-travel list, Egger panicked.
"I think it was like a nine-hour drive to get back to London where our flights were. And our flights weren't for another week."
It turned out that American citizens were allowed back into the country at that point, so Egger had a decision to make: finish the trip and risk having to run (or close) the store remotely, or spend thousands of dollars on the next flight to the U.S.. He decided to finish the trip.
By: Patrick Larsen
Bobby Egger on staying in England - Patrick Larsen
"They really stepped up for me."
When Egger returned to the U.S., he went into a mandatory two-week quarantine - which meant he couldn't go into the store. He says this is when keeping his two employees on really started to pay off.
"The entire month of March I was in England and then I was home for two weeks," Egger said. "I wouldn't have been able to actually operate my store if I didn't have those two employees."
For that first two weeks, Egger had to figure out how to work from home - he says his porch has been "crucial." Regular deliveries from his workers and distancing practices let him price records from home. He and his staff had to move their entire store catalog online, which is a tedious and still ongoing process. Like many businesses, it was the only way Vinyl Conflict could hope to adjust to the new normal. Egger says it wouldn't have been possible without his workers.
But it seemed like everywhere he looked for advice - the news, other record store owners - he heard the same thing: furlough your employees and shut down the store.
"I just felt for the sake - out of like loyalty - they really stepped up for me when I was gone. How the hell could I lay those two people off? Out of safety sure, but we were being very safe."
Now, his decision looks like it's paid off. The store has been accepted for funding from the Paycheck Protection Program, a federal loan that incentivizes small businesses to keep their workers employed by covering payroll, utility or rent expenses. That means the store can set aside money from sales for things like restocking.
Kris DiBenedetto, one of those two workers, says things have been going pretty well.
"It's not the same, but it's awesome. I'm very thankful to
have a boss that is letting me work and a business that is
making enough money that I can keep working,"
DiBenedetto said.
He notes that the store has been making enough sales to
start buying new and used stock again, which they hadn't
done since the start of Virginia's Stay-at-Home Order. In
fact, it's a stuggle to keep their Discogs.com page as fully
stocked as they want it to be. DiBenedetto's excited the
store is in a position where it can buy again, but things
haven't been all easy.
Egger says that although he's put out the offer to buy
used stock, no one has offered to sell - "I don't think
people want to let go of their stuff in a time like this."
"We haven't gotten anything in almost two months," he continues. "We're not running out of records, but we're running out of new records to list."
As the state nears reopening, Egger certainly has the opportunity - and with the chance to bring in customers and new used stock, the incentive - to reopen. Regardless, he's not interested in that anytime soon. Which, as it turns out, is a decision that some customers really appreciate.
Kris DiBenedetto on bringing in new stock - Patrick Larsen
In the two weeks prior to Virginia's planned Phase One reopening date, COVID-19 tests in Richmond showed an increase in case numbers. - Commonwealth of Virginia
"It isn't just loud, angry music."
"Trying to find new music, especially as you get older, is harder, and it's still the best way in the world to find out what to listen to," Leslie said. "And Bobby's great at that, Bobby's great at being like 'If you like that, check out this band.'"
"We picked out some local businesses who are always good to their community and always trying to do extra things for people," Leslie said.
Vinyl Conflict is on their list.
Leslie's quick to mention a run of t-shirts that the store printed in April - proceeds from that project went to Studio Two Three, a local print shop and art space, and Mutual Aid Distribution Richmond, an organization that aims to bring necessary resources to those in need. Those two groups are currently working together to make and distribute reusable masks and other community support.
He also points to the store's decision to stay closed during Phase One of Virginia's reopening.
When Virginia's Stay-at-Home Order started, Marc Leslie and his wife made a list of three businesses.
"I know people don't get that, but that's a dude's business," he said. "If they're staying closed, it's because they are worried about you and about themselves, so you gotta respect that."
On top of that, Leslie's been a regular customer about as long as anybody - he was already in the neighborhood when Vinyl Conflict opened in 2008. As a longtime hardcore and metal fan, Leslie was obviously excited when the store showed up. Having grown up in and around Richmond, it felt great to finally have a store dedicated to the music he loves.
DiBenedetto agrees that this personal interaction is one of the best ways to learn about music and one of the most important draws for a small store like Vinyl Conflict.
"I love helping other people get their records and find new music,"he said. "That keeps things exciting."
Of course, both Leslie and DiBenedetto realize that the pandemic has taken that in-person quality away on both sides. DiBenedetto wishes for a time he could put on new records for his regulars, Leslie longs to flip through albums and talk about what's new. It's those memories - and the promise of their return - that keep them involved.
That feeling of community is more important now than ever, because on May 14th, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's office announced that Richmond would have to wait at least two more weeks before entering Phase One. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney says the city didn't receive official testing statistics until that afternoon - but when they came in, their choice was clear. The city had to stay closed.
Marc Leslie on supporting local businesses - Patrick Larsen
"We've all been checking on each other."
If this development gives Egger any feelings of vindication for his
decision, he doesn't show it. Instead, it's clear that he just feels bad for the
businesses left hanging.
"I just don't think it's time for people to get back up in it unless they're prepared - and, you know, some people have taken the time to get prepared, but I don't think the public has," Egger said. "So I don't think it's in the businesses' hands, unfortunately."
So for the time being, Vinyl Conflict - and the city as a whole - will remain closed, but the work will continue behind the scenes. Egger and his workers have been coming up with new ways to sell their products - like a prepaid virtual crate-digging session via Facetime that they're testing this week. He says things like this are garnering interest, but are just a way to adjust. And he's not sure when things will get back to normal.
"It's the public not taking it seriously - it's the people still going to grocery stores without masks."
Until then, Egger's glad that things are working out alright for Vinyl Conflict. For someone like him - who waves and says hello every time a neighbor walks by - it's just important to stay connected to what his community needs and wants, in Richmond and heavy music scenes around the world.