Family run businesses continue to be seen as the heart and soul of Main Street in Vancouver. This tradition has been around for as long as we can remember, and Neptoon Records is no different. Now celebrating 30 years as Vancouver’s oldest independent record store, Rob Frith is proud to be running this iconic institution with his son, Ben.

The family, however, has been doing business in the area since the early 1900s. According to Frith, “My grandfather owned Arthur Frith’s Clothing for Men, at the corner of Main and Broadway, around 1910. The street was different back then and they tore down the building the store was in when they widened Broadway. He moved the store near the theatre on Main St. and was there until the mid 50s.”

Although he grew up in Burnaby and his first storefront location was on Fraser Street, Frith was always drawn to the Main Street area. After almost 20 years in business and with Neptoon Records continuing to grow, Frith was starting to outgrow his first location. He saw Main Street as an up and coming area and started looking to relocate there. “One day, about eight or nine years ago I saw a ‘for sale’ sign on the building that we are now in, I wrote down the number and made the call. It was a great deal.” He bought the building with his brother, and together they also own a construction company.

Frith was actually in construction when he started Neptoon Records in 1981. He was offering renovations and at that point there was a huge recession, the market fell apart and not many renovations were going on. “I put on record swap meets, collected records, and was trying to figure out what to do.” Along the way he thought “I should open a record store” and figured that “If it doesn’t work, I won’t lose too much.” But it did work and he did really well from the beginning, enjoying every step of the journey. “It was fun and I really liked the hours. I was used to getting up at 6am or 7am for construction, so getting up at 11am was a great new lifestyle.”

The business has been doing well ever since and with a bigger store on a busier street, the business continues to thrive. As an added bonus, one of his son’s is now involved and manages the store. Both Frith and his son have a long history of having great ties to bands and the local music scene. They do what they can to support them and the industry on a regular basis.

Neptoon Records sells new and secondhand records/CDs that represent a broad and eclectic selection of music. They also host a series of live in-store performances to help promote local bands and Frith even owns a record label (currently has three bands signed on – Belladeans, Theemanipulators (son’s band) and The Orpheans). Neptoon also participates in Record Store Day every April which has 14 bands over the course of the day performing live. Frith was involved with arranging music for Car Free Days on Main Street last June and twice a year he organizes a local swap meet called the “Record and CD Convention” (coming up on September 25th at the Croatian Cultural Centre). He also sits on the “Executive” for ShopMain.ca.

And, if all this wasn’t enough, Frith is also working on a book covering the history of Vancouver concert posters. He is an avid collector and despite an impressive personal collection, he is still on the hunt for more. In particular, he is avidly looking for one that featured Bill Haley and The Comets. This was one of the first rock and roll concerts in Vancouver in the 1950s.

Neptoon Records
3561 Main Street
Vancouver, BC
(604) 324-1229
www.neptoon.com

If ever there was a time to come and check out what all the Main Street businesses have to offer…it would be this weekend on Sunday, June 19th for the Annual Car Free Festival.

Main Street will be closed from 12th Avenue all the way up to 28th Avenue. Plan to check out the entire street and don’t worry if you feel like it might be a long walk…we at ShopMain.ca have hired Cruise Cabs to offer pedicab rides (by donation) to tired walkers…young and old! There will be available from 1pm to 5pm all along Main Street. This is a family event with lots of great activities for both kids and adults!

Several music stages will be set up featuring some of Vancouver’s favourite musicians and DJs. In particular check out DJs Elan and Sandra (Tube Socks) at Bohemia Gallery (16th/Main) and then head up to Neptoon Records (Between 19th and 20th) where their stage will be rocking all day long with local indie bands (e.g., Wonderful Diving Horses, the Blue Bus – Pete Bowman’s Band, DB Buxton, Blondewich, The Beladeans, Captain Dust, Bleeding Horse Express, Terminal Station, The Strugglers and Poolhall Gospel)…definitely a highlight at last year’s event.Don’t forget to also check out what is going on inside the stores at both these locations.

Along with all the music stages, several local businesses have set up tables and booths outside their shops to offer fun activities and great deals.

Plush (4296 Main) will be offering DIY craft activities for kids.

On The Fringe Hair Design<, will be offering draws for makeovers and hair products. They also have new OTF reusable tote bags to give away with purchases. There will also be temporary tattoos for the kids and free styling done. All the volunteers will get 15% off until the end of July.

The Locus Cafe will be offering an outside patio with full menu. (4121 Main)

Two of Hearts Boutique (3728 Main) will be offering 20% off regular priced merchandise as well as an additional 10% off sale items. A one day only sale, just for Car Free Day!

Barefoot Contessa (3715 Main) will have two tents set up outside the store containing a ton of fabulous sales, special offers and surprises exclusively for Car Free Day!

Birkeland Bros. (3573 Main) will be doing demos and weaving with a 4 shaft table loom and spinning as well as having a knitting circle going!

Avalon Dance Shop (4532 Main) is offering 10% off on almost everything in their store.

Stay tuned for More!

We want to send out a special thanks to Ben Didier of Pretty/Ugly Design, Niki Campbell from Free Lunch Print Co, .Patrik Balian from Cruise Cabs and to Digitech Printing for their support.

It’s that magical mystical time of the year again…that’s right it’s almost time for Record Store Day!
…We’ve stepped it up once again this year and will have a ridiculous 14 bands (5 More than last year!)! Silliness will ensue.

We will also have a massive slew of Record Store Day releases (I think it’s getting to be around 140 titles…check their Web site for the full list). This year there really is something for everyone.

As always we will also be having a big sale on everything in the store!
Bands will start at 11AM and go till late!

Neptoon Records
3561 Main Street
Vancouver, BC
V5V 3N4
Phone: 604.324.1229

Here’s a list of who’s playing and when!:

11:00 – Yung Mums – http://www.myspace.com/yungmums

11:45 – Blondewich – First performance! Featuring members of Yung Mums, The
Beladeans, Chains of Love, Mode Moderne, and Granny Smiths – http://www.myspace.com/blondewich

12:30 – The Excitations – R’n’B/Soul by members of Thee Manipulators/Tranzmitors/Parallels! First show!

1:15 – Poolhall Gospel – http://www.myspace.com/chrisreadandthepoolhallgospel

2:00 – Piggy – A new band with Ron Reyes (Black Flag) and members of Little Guitar Army, The East Vamps, The Fiends, The Strugglers, Victorian Pork

2:45 – Captain Dust – http://www.myspace.com/captaindust

3:30 – Red Cedar – http://redcedarmusic.com/

4:15 – Tranzmitors – http://www.myspace.com/thetranzmitors

5:00 – The Beladeans – http://www.myspace.com/thebeladeans

5:45 – Bleeding Horse Express – http://www.thebleedinghorseexpress.com

6:30 – Hospital Blonde – http://www.myspace.com/hospitalblonde

7:15 – Petroleum By Product – http://www.myspace.com/petroleumbyproduct

8:00 – Fiends – http://www.myspace.com/thefiendscanada

8:45 – D.B. Buxton Band

Come work on your holiday crafts at Plush! Whether you’re making decorations for your home, working on a holiday party outfit, or making gifts for other people, we’re super-excited to offer up our tools and worktables for your use this holiday season! We will be opening the studio doors for free craft drop-ins from 12:00 to 4:00 on the first two Saturdays of December (the 4th and and the 11th). Bring your materials and we’ll provide sewing, cutting, painting, and glue gun stations, as well as access to a big heap of fabric remnants that we’d love to see recycled. No registration is required for these drop-ins. Please keep in mind that Plush is a professional workroom full of sharp things and pointy bits, and as such is not small-child friendly.
Plush, 4296 Main Street, Vancouver, BC

Join the folks at Neptoon Records for their fabulous annual “Halloween Hullabaloo” on Sunday October 31st from 3pm to 7pm. It is an all ages free concert featuring an exciting array of live music that includes Hospital Blonde, Yung Mums, The Split Ups, Needlesxpins, Thee Manipulators, Hard Drugs, and The Orpheans.

Live, free in-store concert with the Boats on Sunday September 26th at 2pm. Come check out this amazing indy band from Winnipeg at Neptoon Records, 3561 Main Street, Vancouver, BC. Phone: 604.324.1229.

More information online at www.neptoon.com All shows at Neptoon Records are for all ages.