West Seattle's iconic Easy Street Records experienced a deluge of misfortune over the weekend, starting with a flood that damaged a staggering amount of its merchandise. A burst pipe in the apartment above the shop is responsible for the Friday night incident, which, according to KING 5, led to the destruction of up to 10,000 records, something to the tune of more than $100,000 worth of damage. The store's metal, classical and electronic sections were notably affected, with the jazz and world records, along with the entire blues section, also taking a hit.
Amid the cleanup efforts, Easy Street Records was dealt another blow over the weekend. The shop's resilience was tested once again when a distressed woman shattered one of its windows on Sunday, The Stranger reported. Despite these setbacks, the store continues to operate, promptly resuming with a scheduled Jelly Roll listening party Sunday evening.
FOX 13 Seattle detailed further the scope of the damage from the flood, estimating a loss of "at least 7,000 records, two dozen hoodies and tote bags" with an initial damage assessment of about $200,000. With such extensive damage to inventory, Easy Street Records is now facing the monumental task of inventory reconciliation and restoration of its space.