Technology forces Randy’s to close after 28 years
BRIAN KIMBALL
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26
Published: July 17, 2009
Liquidation signs on Randy’s M&M’s in Edmond on Thursday. PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN
EDMOND — After changing with the times for 28 years and supplying Edmond with movies and music and more, Randy’s M&M will be closing because the latest changes are too much for the store to overcome.
Multimedia
Other two stores closed last year
The two other Randy’s M&M stores closed in the past year. The 917 E Danforth Roadstore shut down in August, and the 432 S Santa Fe Ave. store ceased operations in November.
The remaining store, 3200 S Boulevard St., is holding a liquidation sale until it closes its doors at 10 pm Saturday.
The store will then hold an auction for its remaining merchandise and office equipment on July 28, Ruark said.
Ruark, who started the business when he was 25, didn’t expect Randy’s M&M to be open forever. In fact, when the first store opened he said he would be thrilled if they made it to the 1990s.
After making it this far, Ruark, now 55, said the store has been operating on a five-year plan ever since and he knew the end was near.
"Video stores are just about done because the cost of that business model is too expensive now. ... The record business has been dying a quick death, especially during the last five years,” Ruark said.
"Young people are really not buying music any more; buying CDs is just not their thing. I’m not complaining, it’s just a realization that (the Internet) is where everything is going.”
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It's cheap bums like you that kill local business and allow faceless chains to thrive. I'm sure the fine people of Minnesota (where Best Buy's headquarters is located) appreciate your support.
Jay,
Ditto.
I am probably in a minority these days, but I prefer some more hands on attention and the chance to "kick tires" on items. I think a great compare and contract anymore is Best Buy on laptop PC's vs. the Apple Store for macs.
I have always connected good customer service and connection between an establishment and the consumer as good business, but it is not always a true connection.
Chris, many folks could stand to take the time to read John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, our founding fathers read these guys quite a bit and lifts ideas from both camps...
The idea of free markets in America continues to be debated, but it for sure that there have not been free markets in Amercia since the 1870's. That arguement was lost almost 150 years ago now, the debate is how and what to unencumber and what to regulate.
We are on the end of a 30 year swing of non regulation in markets and it's subsequent excesses. The meltdown of the housing, banking, investment sectors all are results of this most recent period. The bailouts of recent started in the last administration to prevent a total meltdown. It would be nice to see instead a full swing to the opposite end just a swing to the middle, but that might be too much to hope for. Yes, a truely centralized economic society would be bad and inefficent without a doubt.
Now- how the heck one could attach Randy's demise though the changing delivery of media to the current macro economic situation is a pretty challanging leap!
Following your thoughts, then the military should be privatized. And the government has been in the "free market" for years.
The sky is falling, you better move to Mexico. And hurry, the smart people will thank you.
You all are right, Blockbuster is next, there house of cards will be falling in soon, if their fiscal ledgers are correct. They are bleeding money now and can't stop it.
While I embrace the technological and new delivery methods, I do miss brick and mortor experences. The virtual world is a socially isolating technology, there is something said for physical human interaction that will go missing. I used to love going and listing to albums in the sound rooms and then using hard earned/saved money to get a single now album.
So long Randy, you are a great person, and I look foward to your next endevor!