Vinyl record stores are making a comeback as multi-purpose rooms in the entertainment world. And Monterey County’s latest has appeared at an unassuming location in Marina, with a “Grand Opening” banner hung across a small business front with a few parking spaces. The inside is a clean and modestly loungey space with a couch, records, sage, incense and even e-bikes that customers can take for a spin.
S.A.G.E. Collective opened May 16, but the store is actually two-in-one—one side houses S.A.G.E. Collective while the other has Harmonie, another vinyl record exchange, along with e-bike rentals as well. The hodgepodge was envisioned by Eric Huerta, who has a mission to develop an inclusive space fit for open mics, musicians and DJs to perform. But according to Huerta’s son Andrew Slorance working the cash register, that can get expensive.
“Rent is expensive so we opened two stores in one storefront,” Slorance says.
The business was born out of a small fundraiser for the 2023 Maui fires, according to their website. S.A.G.E. is an acronym that represents each of the family members who are involved with the business—Samantha, Andrew, Georgia and Eric. Before the storefront on Del Monte Avenue, they sold their wares at pop-ups around the Monterey Peninsula and in the Bay Area, including at Night Market 831 and the Monterey Bay Record and Vintage Expo last April.
Slorance says there aren’t any events planned for the space just yet, but they want to start hosting open mics and acoustic sets on Friday and Saturday nights. The space has a DJ table for vinyl-only DJs to also come and perform while the community hangs out. The venue’s website offers private vinyl showings, a request to be a pop-up vendor and a way to unload unwanted vinyl.
Though a storefront has now opened, pop-ups are continuing for the collective too, with the next one happening at Bargetto Winery in Soquel on June 21, presented by Lowpass Magazine, followed by a booth at Captain + Stoker’s Birthday Festival on July 19.
The S.A.G.E. Collective is located at 3074 Del Monte Ave., Suite A, Marina. 402-3980. sagecollective.biz.
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