Dimple Records Closing After 45 Years
Dimple Records announced this week that it’ll be shutting down. The Sacramento-based company has seven stores in the area.
“Collectively, the retailer employs about 100 people, so this is pretty significant news for the local workforce,” says the Sacramento Business Journal’s Sonya Sorich. “The company isn't going away immediately: Going-out-of-business sales started this week and are expected to last a few months.”
Dimple’s owner — John Radakovitz — wants to retire after nearly 50 years in the business. But there are other reasons for the decision, primarily the lack of product. Most people are now streaming music instead of buying CDs and vinyl.
“The Radakovitz family told me that a big problem was the fact that artists simply aren't making as many physical albums and are turning to internet streaming services instead,” says Sorich.
Throughout the years, Dimple made changes to its business strategy to adapt. Those changes included emphasizing gift items and heightening a focus on books.
“Still, for Dimple, it was hard to make enough changes to make up for declining sales,” says Sorich. “In addition to changes in the music industry, California's rising minimum wage was also a factor.”
California Farmers Adapting To Shrinking Labor Pool
Most California farmers say it's not getting any easier to find workers. Fifty-six percent of the farmers who responded to a recent survey said they hadn't been able to hire all the employees they needed during the last five years. Of those, most said the problem is getting worse. Sorich says farmers are trying to adapt.
"Some are switching to different crops ... things like nut trees, which are less labor intensive,” says Sorich. “Others are embracing technology, but new machines and equipment can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars."
And farmers who upgrade to new technology, also often encounter a new challenge ... finding managers and upper-level workers who know how to use that technology. Mexican immigrants have been the main source of farm labor in California. But the Mexican birthrate is declining, and Mexico's education rate is rising, giving workers more options at home. Nearly 1,100 farmers responded to the survey conducted early this year by UC Davis and the California Farm Bureau Federation.
Golden Road Applies For Permit To Rebuild
It looks like the operators of Golden Road Brewing are working on reopening. The beer garden, which also serves food, is at 18th and L streets in Midtown Sacramento. It's been closed for months after a kitchen fire. Sorich says the company recently applied with the city for building permits to make repairs.
"The Los Angeles-based brewer hasn't commented on those plans, but apparently expects to fully remodel its Midtown location,” says Sorich. “Its original buildings, including the kitchen that caught fire, were made out of shipping containers."
A little while ago, there were also reports of a complaint against Golden Road for allegedly serving beer to an underage customer. Earlier this month, the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said the complaint had not been resolved. But Golden Road's beer manufacturer license in Midtown is still active with ABC.
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