Kirby's Fremont

Fremont Slips into the Future

By Kirby Lindsay

Alien Crime Syndicate: Nabil Ayers, third from left, of Sonic Boom Records.

However, there are other, smaller changes taking place in the area that may have a bigger impact.

Burnt Sugar, an eclectic shop featuring unusual gifts and interior decorations, once located on 34th Street, behind the Red Door Ale House, recently moved to space under the Rocket, where Ah Nuts used to be. To have proven, successful businesses move into larger, more visible locations gives them opportunity to grow, and opens up their previous, smaller locations to new businesses looking to take root.

My favorite move is the recent relocation of Sonic Boom Records to the heart of Fremont, where GlamOrama once reigned. Sonic Boom, while different from GlamOrama, will continue to bring a quirk to the area. For one thing, they will fill the store with "new" racks, SensoMatic equipment and a Computer tracking system purchased from the Backstage Music and Video store in Ballard, once Peaches Music and Video. No frills or high polish but great vibes!

Jason Hughes of Sonic Boom Records.

Owners Nabil Ayers and Jason Hughes originally established Sonic Boom in "West Fremont" in September 1997. The two young men met while working at another record store. Each had considered putting their hardwork into a business of their own rather than someone else's. It was natural to leap into the adventure together and once they'd made the decision, the business came together quickly. They opened on a shoestring budget. They did all their own construction, including installing the telephone which resulted in poor phone lines for quite a while. They started with a microscopic inventory. Nabil handled the marketing & PR of the store while Jason saw to the finances. They split the rest of the work with each pitching in where needed. Each worked an additional job as well, coming in to work the store after putting in many hours already at a paying job.

Today, the music selection has grown and their reputation is sound, and yet both owners still work other jobs. Jason is a Disc Jockey for KNDD and KCMU. Nabil plays with the band Alien Crime Syndicate. Each has a record label. Nabil is with Collective Fruit, which he owns in partnership with others. Jason has his own label, Sonic Boom Recordings, which recently released the Polecat album. This is his first CD release. Up 'til now he has exclusively released albums on vinyl records.

Sonic Boom Records sells records. The owners feel vinyl is growing in popularity. Their former location had a room dedicated to vinyl and many customers walked by the racks of new and used CD's just to check out the vinyl selection. Sonic Boom does not sell cassettes, which Jason and Nabil feel are obsolete. Their new location will give them space to expand their wide selection of music titles to even wider proportions, with more jazz, blues and country music. They already carry the best selection of independent label vinyl and can do quick special orders of nearly anything. Most importantly, they've created a comfortable store where people can go to buy whatever music they choose without fear of criticism. "[We] don't want it to become a pretentious store," Jason explained.

"We try to do the neighborhood thing," he continued. I already knew how generous they can be from their donations to Kid's Day In Fremont and the Halloween Trick-Or-Treat. They give a 10% discount to employees of Fremont businesses and their sponsorship of the Outdoor Cinema may have led to their move.

Charlotte Buchanan, owner of GlamOrama and producer of the Cinema, called them about the space when she realized she was leaving. As a result, they were able to rent it before anyone else was aware it was available. Jason and Nabil continued the good neighbor policy. They called Marko Tubic, a member of the Rotary Club of Fremont and Fremont Chamber, who has been looking for retail space in the area. He now hopes to open his office of Edward Jones Investments in the old Sonic Boom location in March.

What difference can a small, independently owned record store make? When I met Nabil and Jason at the Longshoreman's Daughter Cafe recently a waitress rushed over. There was a CD she wanted. She hoped they could deliver a copy the next time they came in for coffee. Unheard of? Not around here.

Kirby Lindsay listens to music from Sonic Boom while she tends her garden in Fremont. If you have questions about the area, you may write her c/o The Seattle Press or e-mail to fremont@oz.net.

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