Jazz Record Mart Closes in Chicago

The famous Jazz Record Mart in downtown Chicago has closed.

Signs were posted on the doors of the city's oldest record store Monday. 

"Thank you for your patronage," one sign read. 

General Manager Kent Richmond said the shop was sold to Wolfgang's Vaults Monday morning and doors were "closed forever" at 11:30 a.m.

"JRM's closing leaves a giant hole in the cultural fabric of Chicago," Richmond said in a statement.

Following news that the store, also dubbed the world’s largest jazz and blues record store, was being put up for sale, owner Bob Koester was scheduled to meet with potential buyers of the store’s inventory Monday. 

Fans flocked to the famed record shop at 27 E. Illinois St. over the weekend, for what was believed to be the store’s last weekend open.

Koester told the Chicago Tribune rising rents forced him to sell and he anticipated closing Monday. 

Koester, who also owns Delmark Records label in Chicago, noted on Facebook that he plans to keep the label open.

Contact Us