Via Seattle Times
Jason Hughes, owner of Sonic Boom is putting the Ballard record store up for sale. Asking price? $850,000, according to Puget Sound Business Journal. In that PSBJ entry, the reason listed for the sale is "Owner moving out of state." Reached for elaboration on the decision, Hughes said, "I have no comment. It's business as usual around here."
UPDATE: A source says that Sonic Boom is doing well financially, especially due to the increased popularity of vinyl, and that there are plans to keep the store operating in its current space.
Hughes and Nabil Ayers opened Sonic Boom in Fremont in 1997, and then expanded into Ballard in 2001 and later into Capitol Hill. The Fremont location shut down in 2008, followed in 2011 by the closure of the Capitol Hill shop. Sonic Boom consistently has been a very good place to obtain new and used rock, electronic, hiphop, jazz, and experimental records and CDs, as well as DVDs, magazines, and T-shirts. I've always had great luck shopping there and recently scored the expanded reissue of Palais Schaumburg's self-titled 1981 LP there for a low price.
Sonic Boom's next in-store all-ages live shows feature Danny Newcomb & the Sugarmakers Sunday, January 31 and the Cincinnati indie-rock band Wussy, who play there Friday, February 19.
See Trent Moorman's interview with Hughes below.
