Mom and Pop Shop For Your Pop(ular Culture)

            “Hey, can I throw something atcha?” A broad man to my left asks as he turns from the X-Box and games he’s trying to sell to the woman on the other side of the counter and faces a wary-looking me, “I mean figuratively, of course.”

I understood his insinuation, “Right. Shoot, man.”

“This place? There’s another place right around the corner that does the exact same thing. They’re corporately owned, this is privately owned. We get to see these guys every day. I come in here fairly often. Usually I come in in the evenings and it’s the same people. So, as I deal with this guy and say I sell all this stuff today – tomorrow I’ll come back to buy something else. We deal with the same guy and he’ll give us a break. He’ll give us just a little better price because he knows us. I like this place for that reason. Especially this guy,” he points across the counter to the store manager, Andy O’Connell. “This place” is the CD/Game Exchange on Short Vine in Clifton, Cincinnati and the previous discourse by my X-Box selling friend is a wonderful testimonial embodying the essence of this great store just a block off campus. 

CD/Game Exchange started back in the 1970s when two brothers began a store with only their own little record collection. It flourished into five stores but eventually the owner cut it down to the two most successful stores – one in Norwood, and this one in Clifton. Today they buy more movies than CDs or games, and try to sell things cheaper than retail but just enough to make a profit. Unlike corporate stores who only buy recent technology and games, CD/Game Exchange will buy old Super Nintendos, first generation DS’s, and CDs from 20 years ago. Andy sold an Atari the other day. Unfortunately the vinyl record shelves are dwindling and with the lack of sales, once those are gone, that’ll be it for the giant 5 song CDs.

Upon first entering the store, music is playing from an unknown somewhere, and posters hang down loose from every inch of the ceiling. The walls are lined entirely with glass cases filled with movies, CDs, and games in alphabetical order. Behind the counter are console controllers from all eras, and there’s even a section for new releases. According to Andy, they will order new music, movie, and game releases every so often to bring in a little more money. “Our busiest day of the year is when the new Madden comes out. I sell out of Adele’s CD almost every week.” The smaller spaces where the walls aren’t being used for shelves are encrusted with stickers, posters and the occasional concert ticket. The pictures overlap covering bits of each other leaving some images to the imagination. 

Andy O’Connell has worked at CD/Game Exchange for eleven years. He’s 28 years old seems to have no plans of abandoning the store. It’s a part of him. He knows his customers and they know Andy. During our conversation, he spots a man coming into the store with a bag in his hand. Before the guy’s even halfway in the door, Andy leans over to his associate, Lisa, and whispers, “The guy’s back with the X-Box and games.” Andy even knew what games the guy had before looking through the pile. The way he was attuned to this customer before he was even a foot inside really brings to life the wonderful local attitude of knowing your customers and knowing their needs that larger businesses fail to do. “I know a lot of people’s first names,” he tells me later, “we got that kind of mom and pop sort of feel.”

If you’re in the market to sell answering machines, shoes, or food, however, don’t stop at the CD/Game Exchange. Andy tells me he had to turn people away for trying to sell these sorts of items. The infamous Beatles’ album with the butcher cover came through once, but his manager bought it right up. Having first pick of the new items like that is something Andy and Lisa both love about the store. The relaxed hours fit their lifestyles and listening to good music all day is certainly a plus. “I’ve played guitar since I was a little kid,” Andy mentions when I asked about his personal passion for music. 

I stood at the counter watching Lisa process many transactions. One girl stops in to quickly sell Disney’s “Robin Hood,” and a couple other guys are selling games. A sandy-haired, lanky guy with glasses came in asking if Andy knew another customer who apparently patrons the place regularly. Without fail, Andy knew and even could attest that that particular customer is off in Chicago right now. Lisa took on her job here because she needed a second income, but now loves the place despite the “job” stipulation. And how could she not? CD/Game Exchange is a great place to find some of the best prices on the world’s most favorite forms of entertainment and even get a touch of friendly familiarity while you’re at it.