Interview with Josh Lent, managing partner
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: I’ve been collecting records since I was a kid, and in adult life have helped run some labels as well my own record distribution, whether it was boxes of records at shows or online stores. My partner, Val, has also been a lifelong collector. The time was right to open a brick-and-mortar shop.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: We are fans of the music, foremost. We’ve played in bands our entire lives and are deeply connected to the DIY metal and punk scenes. This allows us to buy direct from the bands and labels and sidestep distributors in a lot of places. With that, we don’t need to make a living off the shop, we have other jobs. That allows for low prices and a huge selection of stuff you cannot find anywhere else in the region, let alone the state.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: Music is my life. This is another way to celebrate that.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: The distributors! Like I said before, we try to buy from bands and the small labels — they are eager and move fast. Some of the more established labels and distributors are unorganized and are sometimes difficult to work with.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: We specialize in punk and metal, but our first sale was Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hendrix and the Cars. That was a surprise to all of us in the shop. We have kids and they sometimes hang out at the shop. And we have a pinball machine, too. Come hang out and play a few games.
Profile
Business: Chain Reaction Records
Address: 8793 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Founded: 2014
Contact: 303-237-4445, facebook.com/chainreaction303
Employees: 2
