A memoir of 25 years (1975-2000) spent working in the world of records & music in Seattle, with occasional side trips into writings on Led Zeppelin and other adventures from my musical life.
I was promoted to be the first manager of the Bellevue Square store, and it was painful to give up my asst manager position at the U-District store (that I could ride my bike to) and start driving over the bridge on a daily basis to the mall. I still remember by the extremely busy holiday periods out there, driving over in the rainy dark traffic and driving home exhausted in the same. And that tiny office! Soul-sucking indeed!! On my breaks I would often have to go out and walk around the parking garage and surreptitiously smoke a bowl to maintain my sanity. After a year in exile, I moved back to manage the U-District store and I never returned again. I still hate the smell of caramel corn and I still hate malls. But looking back I now see that it meant a lot to the outcasts of Bellevue to have a place like that store to hang out in.
Oh yeah, many 'sanity' breaks with a joint in the parking garage!
"But looking back I now see that it meant a lot to the outcasts of Bellevue to have a place like that store to hang out in."
And in hindsight, that makes it all worthwhile - we took the Cello Square rock'n'roll gospel and spread it among the young lost souls of suburbia! Or something. . .
Ah, Bellevue Square! That location was my "in" with Cellophane Square, as you may recall, Hugh. I started working in that mall in 1990 when I moved to Seattle to finish my degree. I worked at Cinnabon and, like your staff, was often treated like shit from entitled rich customers (including a notable incident with a Nordstrom). Cellophane Square was the only saving grace and it's where I met Dave Roos, Matt Olsen, and Mike Schultz, which then led me to being hired at the U. District location after I graduated from the U.W in 1992. I used to bring them leftover cinnamon rolls that would have otherwise gone into the garbage. I also ended up dating DR, who brought me to Cello parties, and the rest is history. In short, I owe most of my Seattle social life and connections for the past 35 years to that mall store!
So sorry you had to make that shift. Sounds ghastly. I have lived in the UDistrict since 1983, LOVED visiting that store, still have yet to enter Bellevue Square and am now doubling down on never doing so.
We had some laughs out there. I remember the morning we were blasting Roky Erickson and The Explosives album Casting The Runes at full blast at 10am. They indeed asked us to turn it down. It was so perverse. Those huge subway posters, that we sold like hotcakes, were pretty funny, but I just went along with it.
That store was a lifeline for many folks, clear down to Seattle's south end, including Renton and Kent. I later heard some fan stories from people who really appreciated the Bellevue Cellophane locations. While I managed the Bellevue Square location, from October 1989 to October 1990, I felt I had a cracking and hilarious staff that included Mark W, the creative genius behind the KISS display. In hindsight, it was a very blessed time to be working at a used record store like Cellophane Square right then, as the Northwest music scene was about ready to blow the roof off the sucker.
There were some surprising folks coming through those doors, like Jack Endino's dad, who noticed all the Sub Pop merch we had, and figured correctly that I would recognize his son's name. Our buddy, the maintenance guy, British Bob, was energetic and was really into vinyl. I'm still friends with some dudes, who also worked at BelSquare while I did, from Kennelly Keys and Gulliver's restaurant. On a personal note, I met the mother of my son, born in 1992, on the bus that went from the University district to Bellevue, as she also worked at the mall. There were other customer/friends that I made at Bellevue Cellophane Square that I would love to see again.
I've been to hundreds of used record stores and that storefront was beautiful, I especially liked the neon. I did a Blondie window display that I recall fondly. I remember being grateful for a couple of nice rides home in the company truck on the 520 bridge with you.
I was a UDistrict local, and CellSquare fan, from '80 to '85. I was out of the country for six months, returned, moved to Bellevue. I saw an ad, couldn't make sense of it. I called the store, said "you're actually _in_ Bellevue Square?" My favorite store had come across the lake with me! Loved you guys, and tbf your brethren at Tower up the street.
I'm sorry it was such an unpleasant experience for you, but I loved going out to your Bellevue location, then walking across the street to the other store (Rubato?) and maybe up 8th to Tower. My young friends on the East side really appreciated it, too. I bought my first "punk rock" t-shirt there: the U-men!
Thanks for that comment, Rob. It makes me happy to know that the store was important to people - I’ve had other folks say the same - and I realize that my negative comments may collide with the more positive memories out there. Knowing that you got a U-Men tee at the store - and other similar stories - makes it all worthwhile!
And yes, it was Rubato Records over on NE 8th Street, run by John Rogers, aka Johnny Rubato, of the band Student Nurse. Johnny (a great guy btw) originally worked at Puss ‘n’ Books on the Ave, and then opened Rubato which was the Eastside’s first used record store.
Malls seem so eighties now, even though they're still around. The big mall in my hometown almost went kaput and now it's been resurrected as a 'commons.' Based on your post, not such a good business model, at least not for innovative and customer-centric businesses like Cellophane Square.
And banning KISS? If they only knew what was on those shelves inside!
Proud to say I have lived in the Idistrict since 1983 and have yet to step inside Bellevue Square, though it sounds like you did as well as you could there. Ya made me laugh with the KISS acronym.
I was promoted to be the first manager of the Bellevue Square store, and it was painful to give up my asst manager position at the U-District store (that I could ride my bike to) and start driving over the bridge on a daily basis to the mall. I still remember by the extremely busy holiday periods out there, driving over in the rainy dark traffic and driving home exhausted in the same. And that tiny office! Soul-sucking indeed!! On my breaks I would often have to go out and walk around the parking garage and surreptitiously smoke a bowl to maintain my sanity. After a year in exile, I moved back to manage the U-District store and I never returned again. I still hate the smell of caramel corn and I still hate malls. But looking back I now see that it meant a lot to the outcasts of Bellevue to have a place like that store to hang out in.
Oh yeah, many 'sanity' breaks with a joint in the parking garage!
"But looking back I now see that it meant a lot to the outcasts of Bellevue to have a place like that store to hang out in."
And in hindsight, that makes it all worthwhile - we took the Cello Square rock'n'roll gospel and spread it among the young lost souls of suburbia! Or something. . .
Hey DC, during a shift, did you ever blast "Burn Down The Mall" by Mojo Nixon? :)
I'm sure I did! I was thinking of that song as I read HJs post.
Ah, Bellevue Square! That location was my "in" with Cellophane Square, as you may recall, Hugh. I started working in that mall in 1990 when I moved to Seattle to finish my degree. I worked at Cinnabon and, like your staff, was often treated like shit from entitled rich customers (including a notable incident with a Nordstrom). Cellophane Square was the only saving grace and it's where I met Dave Roos, Matt Olsen, and Mike Schultz, which then led me to being hired at the U. District location after I graduated from the U.W in 1992. I used to bring them leftover cinnamon rolls that would have otherwise gone into the garbage. I also ended up dating DR, who brought me to Cello parties, and the rest is history. In short, I owe most of my Seattle social life and connections for the past 35 years to that mall store!
It’s all coming back to me now. . . Cinnabon! I might have even been the beneficiary of one of those rolls you brought to the store, a vague memory.
“In short, I owe most of my Seattle social life and connections for the past 35 years to that mall store”
Another positive thing to come out of the BelSquare experience! My day keeps getting better & better, thanks!
So sorry you had to make that shift. Sounds ghastly. I have lived in the UDistrict since 1983, LOVED visiting that store, still have yet to enter Bellevue Square and am now doubling down on never doing so.
I'm getting a mild dose of PTSD or is it PBST? syndrome just reading about that shit stain of a mall.
No, PBST is the cure for PTSD (at least for me).
We had some laughs out there. I remember the morning we were blasting Roky Erickson and The Explosives album Casting The Runes at full blast at 10am. They indeed asked us to turn it down. It was so perverse. Those huge subway posters, that we sold like hotcakes, were pretty funny, but I just went along with it.
That store was a lifeline for many folks, clear down to Seattle's south end, including Renton and Kent. I later heard some fan stories from people who really appreciated the Bellevue Cellophane locations. While I managed the Bellevue Square location, from October 1989 to October 1990, I felt I had a cracking and hilarious staff that included Mark W, the creative genius behind the KISS display. In hindsight, it was a very blessed time to be working at a used record store like Cellophane Square right then, as the Northwest music scene was about ready to blow the roof off the sucker.
There were some surprising folks coming through those doors, like Jack Endino's dad, who noticed all the Sub Pop merch we had, and figured correctly that I would recognize his son's name. Our buddy, the maintenance guy, British Bob, was energetic and was really into vinyl. I'm still friends with some dudes, who also worked at BelSquare while I did, from Kennelly Keys and Gulliver's restaurant. On a personal note, I met the mother of my son, born in 1992, on the bus that went from the University district to Bellevue, as she also worked at the mall. There were other customer/friends that I made at Bellevue Cellophane Square that I would love to see again.
I've been to hundreds of used record stores and that storefront was beautiful, I especially liked the neon. I did a Blondie window display that I recall fondly. I remember being grateful for a couple of nice rides home in the company truck on the 520 bridge with you.
Thanks Scott, great to hear another positive perspective!
I was a UDistrict local, and CellSquare fan, from '80 to '85. I was out of the country for six months, returned, moved to Bellevue. I saw an ad, couldn't make sense of it. I called the store, said "you're actually _in_ Bellevue Square?" My favorite store had come across the lake with me! Loved you guys, and tbf your brethren at Tower up the street.
I'm sorry it was such an unpleasant experience for you, but I loved going out to your Bellevue location, then walking across the street to the other store (Rubato?) and maybe up 8th to Tower. My young friends on the East side really appreciated it, too. I bought my first "punk rock" t-shirt there: the U-men!
Thanks for that comment, Rob. It makes me happy to know that the store was important to people - I’ve had other folks say the same - and I realize that my negative comments may collide with the more positive memories out there. Knowing that you got a U-Men tee at the store - and other similar stories - makes it all worthwhile!
And yes, it was Rubato Records over on NE 8th Street, run by John Rogers, aka Johnny Rubato, of the band Student Nurse. Johnny (a great guy btw) originally worked at Puss ‘n’ Books on the Ave, and then opened Rubato which was the Eastside’s first used record store.
Malls seem so eighties now, even though they're still around. The big mall in my hometown almost went kaput and now it's been resurrected as a 'commons.' Based on your post, not such a good business model, at least not for innovative and customer-centric businesses like Cellophane Square.
And banning KISS? If they only knew what was on those shelves inside!
“Got them Bellevue Square Mall blues, baby”
Successful in spite of it all!
Proud to say I have lived in the Idistrict since 1983 and have yet to step inside Bellevue Square, though it sounds like you did as well as you could there. Ya made me laugh with the KISS acronym.