The Business

The Business in Anacortes is a specialty shop with a history tied directly to the town's outsized independent music story. The store carries new vinyl, CDs, and cassettes from smaller independent artists and labels, and its distro work connects Anacortes to a much wider DIY music network.

In this interview, Nick Rennis talks about the store's history, the ferry-town visitor mix, Northwest DIY, Guruguru Brain, and why The Business is not trying to be a general used-record shop.

Interview with The Business

Anacortes has a music history completely out of proportion to its size, and The Business has been part of that story for a long time. How would you tell it?

The Business was founded in 1978 by Glen DesJardins. In its humble beginnings we carried everything from stained glass and books to bird seed and photography equipment. Bret Lunsford (Beat Happening, D+) owned The Business from 1995-2004 and launched house label Knw-Yr-Own Records. Liz and Jensen Lovelett owned the store from 2005-2010. Since 2010, it has been owned by myself and Evie Opp, who continue to culture the town via our devotion to fiercely independent new music. In 2012 we began The Business Distro-, which continues to grow and expand the role of The Business on a global scale. We provide label operations and mailorder fulfillment for hundreds of self-releasing artists and independent labels. We also occasionally curate local shows.

What does an island-adjacent, ferry-town location do to a record store - who walks in?

We get our fair share of summer tourism traffic. It can be a mixed bag, from clueless families looking to kill time to those devoted to the Anacortes music mythology who are making it a part of their pilgrimage. It's a funny balance: extremely dismissive to extremely reverent.

How much does the Northwest DIY lineage - the labels, the home recordings, the fests - still shape the shop?

Our history definitely plays a role in what we do, and our forever ethos. The roots are deep. We're a DIY operation, but we are also experts at what we do. As the "scene" ebbs and flows, we're a reliable beacon in the darkness.

What do locals buy versus what visitors passing through to the San Juans pick up?

Locals find many ways to support us: subscribing to our monthly new music program, making special orders/pre-orders, and of course just browsing. Visitors who know what we're doing definitely flock to the big distributed titles we carry. When visiting the hub for an artist or label, it makes sense to stock up!

What's been quietly strong in the bins lately?

Our easiest sell to casual browsers or our devoted fans are the Guruguru Brain label as well as the related artists like label founder Tomo Katsurada's solo work. The records are visually captivating and a brief description usually entices.

If someone wants to sell records, what's the best way to start - and what makes a collection an easy yes?

If you're talking about selling your own collection, I guess go nuts but realize that it's only going to be the oddball stuff that's worth your trouble. If you are itching to start a store - do it! Be prepared for a lot of work, and make sure you specialize in something unique.

What condition issues does the marine air leave on records over the decades?

Believe it or not, many of us live indoors most of the time - I don't think the brine is noticeable.

First visit to The Business - what should someone understand about the place?

We are a specialty store. We only carry new titles on vinyl, CD, and cassette by smaller independent artists and labels. Don't expect to know a bunch of stuff on the shelf, but take your time browsing, ask for recommendations or previews, and expand your palette! It's good for you!

FAQ

What does The Business specialize in?

The Business carries new vinyl, CDs, and cassettes by smaller independent artists and labels, with a focus on independent and contemporary music.

Does The Business buy used records?

The shop is not a general used-record buyer. Its existing guidance says it does not typically buy from individuals unless the collection is modern, and used records may be accepted as donations.

What should a first-time visitor expect?

Expect a specialty shop, not a general hits-bin record store. Take time browsing, ask for recommendations or previews, and be ready to discover smaller independent artists and labels.

What else does The Business do beyond retail?

The Business Distro provides label operations and mail-order fulfillment for self-releasing artists and independent labels, and the shop occasionally curates local shows.

Last updated: 2026-07-16