Chicago’s Most Eclectic Independent Music Publication

Latest News

  • Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios, Approaches Fifty-Years Of Innovation Right Here In Chicago
  • Photo Gallery: Libido Funk Circus @ NRS Commons Park 2025
  • Southern Harmony Under the Stars: The Black Crowes Reignite at Ravinia
  • Cheap Eats And Free Live Entertainment From Chicago’s Finest Roots Rocker Joel Paterson In A Historic Suburban Club, FitzGerald’s
  • Photo Gallery: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God at Baltimore Soundstage (Baltimore, MD)
  • ITLM OTRS Presents: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God Reignite the Flame on ‘Return to Zero’ Tour at Baltimore Soundstage
  • Home
  • Music News
    • Breaking News
    • Features
    • This Just In
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • ITLM OTRS
    • Local Loop
    • Musical Theatre
    • ChiBluesBro’s Jukebox Reviews
  • Media
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Streaming Live
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Promotions
  • About
  • Contact
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Youtube

Uptown Record and Book Store, Shake Rattle & Read, Closing Doors After 50 Years

May 05, 2016 James Currie Features, Music News, Reviews 0


Uptown Record and Book Store, Shake Rattle & Read, Closing Doors After 50 Years

By James Currie

There is a special place in Uptown for music and book lovers that will soon be gone forever.  A place that for 50 years has welcomed in Chicago and traveling through guests to it’s eclectic inventory and honorable host’s humble abode. Shake, Rattle and Read / Book Box has been a neighborhood establishment on Broadway for over five decades, but as of May 22nd, 2016, it’s doors will close forever leaving another gapping whole on the historic block.

IMG_0260

Ric Addy has been working with Shake Rattle & Read (AKA Book Box) since the mid 1970’s.  It’s been a family business since 1966 when his sister started it.  Addy moved to San Francisco in the mid to late 60’s. Just shortly after his sibling opened it’s doors. He was looking for something more. Always a collector and music buff, he came back to Chicago in the early 70’s and his sister asked him to take over. He did and grew it into something that most Chicagoans have come to treasure.

IMG_0249

Shake Rattle & Read is located right next to the historic UpTown Theatre. Literally attached to the same supporting southern wall. It’s been closed for years, but Addy remembers it fondly. “I saw the original Star Wars there.  There was always something great happening there weather it was a movie or live show.”  He talked about how being in the location they are in was key to their success. Surrounded by great venues like the Uptown but also The Aragon and The Riviera Theatre – the trifecta. Once the doors of the UpTown closed, he saw some decline, but the others in the area kept foot traffic going. Two doors down from him is also The Green Mill.

IMG_0234

Addy remembers many famous folk shopping at his place. “Frankie Nardiello (AKA Groovie Mann) from My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult use to come in here and buy magazines and papers to make art from them.” Said, Addy. “He wasn’t the only one. We’ve had The Ramones in here, members of Ministry, Iggy pop and Billy Corgan as regular guests.” Also noted, Sean Lennon (who bought several old copies of Rolling Stone Magazine as a gift for Yoko Ono), Joe Strummer of The Clash, Ed Paschke (a favorite haunted for the Chicago based artist), Kurt Russell, David Schwimmer, Foo Fighters and countless others as many decades. Even actress Kathleen Turner stopped in several times while filming V.I. Warshawski next door at The Green Mill.

IMG_0236

Addy has been involved in music and the arts all his life. He’s a DJ, a musician in his band, Iggy Yoakam and avid music collector. He loves going to live concerts and events not just here in Chicago, but will travel for some of his favorites. He worked at other record stores like Downtown Records in the loop and was a manager for the Record Exchange in Evanston before he bought the store from his sister. He worked with Al Jourgensen at one record store.  He was invited to DJ for the Smashing Pumpkins final party in Longan’s Square back in 2000.

His store is a place that is well known in the industry. VH1 came in and bought more than 2000 vintage Rolling Stone magazines for a Tom Petty documentary. Several movies have been shot in the area and those film crews end up shopping in the small, packed to the gills store.

IMG_0266

This is also a story about how the community rally’s in support of him. He has regulars like George. A man who I met the day of this interview. He has been a loyal, longtime customer for many, many years. He’s said, “The neighborhood just won’t be the same without him”. A sentiment overheard many times throughout the day as many customers paid for their soon to be last ever purchases.

IMG_0290

“It’s time” said Addy. “I’ve been doing this for a very long time. I said I was going to retire at a certain age and that has come. I wanted to keep this place or at least name going, so I tried to sell it, but we ran into problems. The current landlords own the block. They need a certain amount to keep things running. I’ve been fortunate to have kept a lower rate than most, but with a change over in ownership, they will be raising the rent a lot.” He went on to say, “I had the place sold to a young couple. They wanted to keep it right here, but with the rent increase and the neighborhood going the way it’s been going the past few years, backed out. I don’t blame them, but would to have liked to at least see the name go on even if they moved it somewhere else. I mean, It’s a pretty established name that been around a long time. You can do something with that alone.”

IMG_0230

Addy is retiring, but not 100%. He moving to the warmer weather of Florida where he will be helping a friends store out with online sales. Something that his is a master at. He has a “Top Seller” rating on eBay and has been doing it for a long time with an excellent rating as well as an Amazon store. Something he’s also very proud of. It’s a second, very efficient and lucrative business that lives in the basement of Shake Rattle & Read. Just next to his band practice room and former infamous, underground tunnel entrance. Once he leaves, there will not be room for this in his current or new place. He friends place is not up to speed with web sales, so he’s going to get that going for him part time just to help him out and still have a little fun with something he knows very well.

IMG_0244

For now, you still have time to witness and visit this Uptown landmark.  The final day will be May 21, 2016. The day I was there he announced to the store that everything from this point on was going to be just $1! Something that no one really believed until we go to the register and he rang it up. Yep, everything except brand new sealed records was just $1. That includes everything in this amazing store like used records, books, magazines, comics, cassettes, 8-track tapes, VHS bootleg concerts, collectables, store fixtures and more.

Come in and show your support and love from now until May 21. You never know what you’ll still find in those hidden boxes of treasures. Addy said, “And I still have a lot more to still bring out from the basement and back rooms too!” And make sure you get a picture with Ric in front of his signature spot!

IMG_0292

For more info on Shake Rattle & Read like hours and special events, click here

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
FollowFollow us
PinterestSave

  • tweet
Breaking News! Martin Atkins Makes Huge Pigface Announcement Photo Gallery : RavenEye @ House of Blues

James Currie

Related Articles
  • Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios, Approaches Fifty-Years Of Innovation Right Here In Chicago
    Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios,...

    Oct 25, 2021 1

  • Photo Gallery: Libido Funk Circus @ NRS Commons Park 2025
    Photo Gallery: Libido Funk Circus @ NRS...

    Jun 20, 2025 0

  • Southern Harmony Under the Stars: The Black Crowes Reignite at Ravinia
    Southern Harmony Under the Stars: The...

    Jun 19, 2025 0

  • Cheap Eats And Free Live Entertainment From Chicago’s Finest Roots Rocker Joel Paterson In A Historic Suburban Club, FitzGerald’s
    Cheap Eats And Free Live Entertainment...

    Jun 19, 2025 0

  • Photo Gallery: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God at Baltimore Soundstage (Baltimore, MD)
    Photo Gallery: Billy Corgan and the...

    Jun 11, 2025 0

More in this category
  • Southern Harmony Under the Stars: The Black Crowes Reignite at Ravinia
    Southern Harmony Under the Stars: The...

    Jun 19, 2025 0

  • Cheap Eats And Free Live Entertainment From Chicago’s Finest Roots Rocker Joel Paterson In A Historic Suburban Club, FitzGerald’s
    Cheap Eats And Free Live Entertainment...

    Jun 19, 2025 0

  • ITLM OTRS Presents: Billy Corgan and the Machines of God Reignite the Flame on ‘Return to Zero’ Tour at Baltimore Soundstage
    ITLM OTRS Presents: Billy Corgan and...

    Jun 11, 2025 0

  • Praise the Lords! Lords of Acid Unleash Hedonistic Fury at Bottom Lounge.
    Praise the Lords! Lords of Acid Unleash...

    Jun 10, 2025 0


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Categories

CALENDAR

June 2025
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« May    
Spotify Top 50 Global

Archives

  • June 2025 (15)
  • May 2025 (21)
  • April 2025 (26)
  • March 2025 (25)
  • February 2025 (13)
  • January 2025 (8)
  • December 2024 (13)
  • November 2024 (10)
  • October 2024 (12)
  • September 2024 (20)
  • August 2024 (15)
  • July 2024 (30)
  • June 2024 (17)
  • May 2024 (23)
  • April 2024 (19)
  • March 2024 (14)
  • February 2024 (16)
  • January 2024 (5)
  • December 2023 (7)
  • November 2023 (15)
  • October 2023 (5)
  • September 2023 (22)
  • August 2023 (9)
  • July 2023 (9)
  • June 2023 (12)
  • May 2023 (9)
  • April 2023 (11)
  • March 2023 (15)
  • February 2023 (18)
  • January 2023 (9)
  • December 2022 (4)
  • November 2022 (5)
  • October 2022 (12)
  • September 2022 (28)
  • August 2022 (28)
  • July 2022 (39)
  • June 2022 (21)
  • May 2022 (20)
  • April 2022 (13)
  • March 2022 (33)
  • February 2022 (21)
  • January 2022 (22)
  • December 2021 (11)
  • November 2021 (15)
  • October 2021 (16)
  • September 2021 (36)
  • August 2021 (21)
  • July 2021 (26)
  • June 2021 (27)
  • May 2021 (13)
  • April 2021 (13)
  • March 2021 (12)
  • February 2021 (4)
  • January 2021 (2)
  • December 2020 (7)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (3)
  • September 2020 (10)
  • August 2020 (6)
  • July 2020 (7)
  • June 2020 (3)
  • May 2020 (5)
  • April 2020 (3)
  • March 2020 (10)
  • February 2020 (22)
  • January 2020 (10)
  • December 2019 (8)
  • November 2019 (30)
  • October 2019 (30)
  • September 2019 (27)
  • August 2019 (41)
  • July 2019 (33)
  • June 2019 (27)
  • May 2019 (36)
  • April 2019 (25)
  • March 2019 (41)
  • February 2019 (22)
  • January 2019 (11)
  • December 2018 (17)
  • November 2018 (13)
  • October 2018 (34)
  • September 2018 (43)
  • August 2018 (26)
  • July 2018 (34)
  • June 2018 (23)
  • May 2018 (31)
  • April 2018 (24)
  • March 2018 (49)
  • February 2018 (48)
  • January 2018 (25)
  • December 2017 (10)
  • November 2017 (30)
  • October 2017 (10)
  • September 2017 (26)
  • August 2017 (25)
  • July 2017 (42)
  • June 2017 (37)
  • May 2017 (49)
  • April 2017 (54)
  • March 2017 (44)
  • February 2017 (39)
  • January 2017 (14)
  • December 2016 (22)
  • November 2016 (20)
  • October 2016 (20)
  • September 2016 (35)
  • August 2016 (46)
  • July 2016 (51)
  • June 2016 (23)
  • May 2016 (15)
  • April 2016 (18)
  • March 2016 (22)
  • February 2016 (27)
  • January 2016 (11)
  • December 2015 (8)
  • November 2015 (17)
  • October 2015 (21)
  • September 2015 (30)
  • August 2015 (54)
  • July 2015 (49)
  • June 2015 (44)
  • May 2015 (16)
  • April 2015 (6)
  • March 2015 (9)
  • February 2015 (9)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (2)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (5)
  • July 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (4)
  • May 2014 (5)
  • April 2014 (1)
  • March 2014 (1)
  • February 2014 (2)
  • January 2014 (2)
  • December 2013 (1)
  • November 2013 (2)
  • October 2013 (1)
  • September 2013 (1)
  • August 2013 (2)
  • July 2013 (3)
  • June 2013 (2)
  • May 2013 (5)
  • April 2013 (3)
  • March 2013 (1)
  • February 2013 (1)
  • May 2012 (2)
  • January 2012 (3)
  • September 2011 (1)
Tweets by BeInTheLoopChi

Tag Cloud

2024 (30) 2025 (20) Al Jourgensen (4) Berwyn (6) C2E2 (6) Chicago (143) Chicago Theatre (6) City Winery (4) Concert (21) concert photography (29) concert photos (16) concert review (37) Country Music (6) David Lee Roth (4) Douglas Park (4) Festival (9) Grant Park (6) Highland Park (6) Illinois (8) images (9) Interview (4) In The Loop Magazine (48) james currie (8) john 5 (5) live (72) Lollapalooza (7) lords of acid (5) Metro (7) Ministry (7) Music Festival (6) NItzer Ebb (5) Photos (7) Ravinia (15) review (5) Riot Fest (16) Riviera Theatre (6) rob zombie (6) Salt Shed (11) Sold Out (6) tour (28) Tour 2024 (13) Tour 2025 (9) United Center (8) US Tour (5) wax trax records (5)

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© 2025 In The Loop Magazine / All Rights Reserved.
  • Music News
  • Media
  • Festivals
  • Promotions
  • Venues
  • About
  • Gallery