Podcast: Q & A with Steve Athey from Skinnies Records

Record store owner, Steve Athey, sat down with myself to talk about ’80’s-era Norfolk, Granby Street peep shows, the day Morrissey stopped by, and the one record that has sold the most copies.

In December 1986, Steve Athey purchased a record store for $7,000. Nearly thirty years later, Skinnies Records, and Steve, are still going strong. The road has not been an easy one, however.

Skinnies has survived the death of vinyl, the birth of the compact disc, competition from big-box stores, online retailers, and digital downloads. Steve has survived a couple of major surgeries and has had to move the location of the store two times; the most recent move was done by hand.

Shoppers may not always leave Skinnies having purchased something, but most leave with an impression, and opinion, and a story. Steve Athey may have mellowed out over the years, but he stills runs Skinnies Records his way – since 1987.

This episode was recorded on a Thursday at 2PM at Skinnies Records in Norfolk, VA.