A Blend of Old and New at Yuri's Records

is located on a stretch of Tweedy Boulevard that in the last few years, saw places like Miller’s Outpost, The Warehouse, and Ritmo Latino close up shop for good. Yet this small, family-owned business has outlived many of its competitors thanks in part to its ability to adapt with the times.

“I’ve lived in the area for years and never stopped by, although some of my friends would always talk about it,” said first-time customer Tatiana Chavez, 29. “I’m glad I finally came! I love music, especially oldies, and a lot of the really good stuff you just can’t find anywhere else.”

A quick walk through the shop shows exactly how diverse the merchandise at Yuri’s is. CDs by mexican composer Joan Sebastian sit just opposite old school vinyl records from Ice Cube, and not too far away, you can find metal classic Iron Maiden.

Yuri’s dedication to music began with Jackie’s parents, who initially opened the store back in 1976.

“We opened when people were still listening to 8-tracks,” said owner Jackie Farfan. “It’s interesting to see how music changes, but not really. New music comes out, but it still has the same feel, the same beats as it always had.”

Over the years, 8-tracks gave way to cassettes, and CDs eventually dominated the market for a time. However, the onset of the mp3 soon forced Yuri’s to rethink their approach to music.

“About four years ago, we started working in more of the skateboarding element,” Jackie said. “I could see CDs were starting to die out, and I wanted to make sure we had a plan to stay ahead of the game.”

By all accounts, that move paid off, with a vibrant skateboarding subculture springing up at Yuri’s. Now, skateboards, t-shirts, and posters share shelf space with vinyl records, CDs, and tattoo supplies.

“Our busiest time of day is what I like to call the ‘after school rush,’” said employee Fernando Hernandez, 23. “We’re located near a lot of different schools, and when those kids walk home, a lot of them stop in to see what we’ve got.”

Also an employee at , Hernandez says he’s able to recognize a lot of the same customers at both shops. The clients that flock both stores are unique in their desire for both original and classic products. This is an approach that Yuri’s has found successful and one that has helped it create its own market.

“I think one thing that keeps our customers coming back is that we really cater to people who have a love of old school, of classics,” said Hernandez.

In addition, the ambiance at the shop is said to help bring in potential customers who come in to look around and even hang out. An atmosphere that even employees are not immune from loving.  

“I’ve worked here for almost five years, and I’ve stayed because I just really love being around the music culture that’s grown up here,” concluded Hernandez.