Seattle's Vinyl Paradise Lost: Thousands of Records Destroyed in Shocking Store Flood

SEATTLE — The sounds of classic vinyl records and indie music are being replaced with the smell of damp wetness and reconstruction at Easy Street Records after a devastating overnight flood left thousands of records destroyed.

The flagship Seattle record store experienced the unexpected disaster when a burst pipe in the store's ventilation system went unnoticed until employees arrived at the shop in the morning. The unfortunate incident turned the store into an indoor swimming pool with invaluable records floating in the standing water.

Record store owner Matt Vaughan expressed his emotional distress, saying, 'It was pretty depressing walking in on that scene. The smell of mildew, wet cardboard, and ruined vinyl hit us right away.' The traumatic event resulted in significant losses for the store, which has been the hearts of the Seattle music scene for over three decades.

Eyewitnesses and employees recounted the chaotic scene as they quickly scrambled to rescue whatever records they could from the destruction. A portion of the store's inventory, including a section of brand-new vinyl records, was salvaged and taken off-site for immediate drying. However, much of the devastation involved classic vinyl collections, many of which are rare or irreplaceable.

Easy Street Records holds sentimental value in Seattle's music landscape. Founded in the early 1980s, the store had managed to thrive amidst the rise of digital music, and closure of other iconic music shops. The recent deluge is just another test to its resilience. Vaughan is grateful for the love the community is showering on the store during its dark hour.

'Support has been overwhelmingly incredible, it has given us hope that our story doesn't end here,' Vaughan said, adding that a repair plan and future store activities were already underway. A benefit concert in the upcoming weeks is also expected to raise funds to help the affected store's renovation and revamp.

As music enthusiasts gather to mourn the destroyed treasures and offer emotional support, one message remains loud and clear: a story of great grit and unwavering resolve in one of Seattle's greatest beloved institutions.