On January 31, 2012, one of St. Louis's most tasteful music stores, Webster Records, closed. It was unfortunate to have to say goodbye to a store full of well-chosen CDs and records, ranging from Rachel Z and Mary Black to The Hanser-McClellan Guitar Duo and Ralph Vaughan Williams, and always-courteous workers Bill and Jim.
On the second weekend of November each year, my brother and I would attend the annual Old Webster Christmas Open House sale there. In addition to providing a great selection of offbeat vinyl and CDs, the store's customer service was consistently impressive. Bill and Jim would always greet the customers enthusiastically, always remembering to say to us, "Now, our day is complete!" As we talked about all types of music, ranging from Pat Metheny and Louis Armstrong to Brahms and Beethoven, with them, we were free to help ourselves to Switzer's cherry licorice, cookies, and punch. While ringing up purchases, they would often say, "We really appreciate your business," or "Thank you for shopping here." Another highlight of shopping there was meeting St. Louis singer Erin Bode, after she had just dropped off copies of one of her best CDs, "The Little Garden."
The atmosphere outside the store was also welcoming, as horse-drawn carriages trundled by, and instrumental and choral ensembles performed Christmas carols on the sidewalk.
The Old Webster Christmas Open House is going on today, but the lights will seem a bit dimmer to me without Webster Records. Today, it's rare to find a store that offers a great selection and excellent customer service; Webster Records had both attributes going for it, which made its closing all the more disappointing. It's no wonder that Bode wrote on a poster of herself, "To the best record store in the world."
Thanks, Bill, Jim, and Webster Records, for all the years of great music and conversation.
