[Updates below.]

I just got this through e-mail:

We would like to thank all of our customers, record labels, musicians and friends who have helped make 33 Degrees a success and an exciting place to work over these past nine years.

We have decided it is now time to move on and effective May 31st we will be closing our doors.
We've had a great time: making friends, turning you on to the music we love, and learning from y'all, too. But, now we're looking forward to achieving many other things in our lives. A chapter ends, but the book isn't finished.

Effective immediately all new items are on SALE at 20% off. This excludes items already sale priced and markdowns, but, heck, that means everything you've been lusting after is ON SALE!!!
Please come by and score some great sounds at great prices during our last month.

Thanks! Bob and Dan

Thirty Three Degrees
4017 Guadalupe - Austin - TX 78751
http://www.thirtythreedegrees.com

Of all the record stores in Austin, 33º is the one in which I feel the most comfortable. I'll miss the relaxed atmosphere, relaxed store clerks, and well-used listening stations. The store's e-mail newsletter has given me the heads up on too many upcoming concerts to mention as well as kept me abreast of new releases far from the Top 40 pop charts.

Given all the self-produced hype about Austin being the Live Music Capital of the World, it seems odd 33º would just close like this. Perhaps there's something going on behind the scenes. Or perhaps, like Orbital, they've decided to get out while ahead and at the peak of their business.

In any event, it appears I'll be spending more time and money at Waterloo Records. Now that Tower Records wil be leaving, I'll need another backup music store.

Alien Records isn't bad, but it's focus is on electronic music and the customer service has been iffy in the past. Cheapo Discs is a place I've never been to. It looks promising even though it's a high-volume used music store. Haven't been to Jupiter Records, either.

UPDATE(5/11/2004 12:15pm)
Just recieved another e-mail. The sale's discount has just been increased to 30%. All new items are now 30% off. Also:

And this Saturday, May 15th from 11am to 1 pm, we'll be selling all of the promo & store play CD's we've gathered for nine years at an incredible $5.00 each. That's 2500-3000 discs!!!

There's still a lot of amazing vinyl left in our Punk, Jazz, Classic Rock, Prog, & Psych sections. C'mon you waxheads, what are ya waiting for?

UPDATE(5/18/2004 12:07pm)
Thank you, 33º, for providing me with sweet, musical bliss! And a new sale!