Karl Groeger Jr., Looney Tunes co-owner, cuts the ribbon on opening day. Photo by Larry Hollman.

By James Bouklas and Will James

Looney Tunes CD Store in West Babylon enjoyed an explosive grand reopening on Dec. 1, attracting 776 customers after the store was destroyed in a fire in August.

“It was a rush to get in. It was unbelievable,” said Joe Meyer, a manager, of Looney Tunes’ first 15 minutes open on Dec. 1. “It was pandemonium. It was wall-to-wall people.” For hours, the checkout line spanned the width of the store and scores of people zigzagged the shelves.

When folk singer Chuck Ragan, formerly of the Florida-based punk band Hot Water Music, arrived, a small crowd congealed around the tiny stage in the corner of the store – a stage that has fixed itself in the history of Long Island music, hosting local bands regularly for years.

Brothers Jamie and Karl Groeger, co-owners, have been rebuilding and redesigning the store since it burned in an accidental electrical fire on Aug. 30. As Chuck Ragan took the stage, Karl Groeger addressed the crowd, saying, “We thank you guys for supporting independent retail. It means a lot to us.”

Customers liked the fact that Looney Tunes represents a glimmer of hope for independent, local retail in the face of corporate sprawl. A FYE stands across the street, yards away, but remained empty as hundreds of customers flooded the newly-opened Looney Tunes, which has garnered national attention as one of the last remaining mom-and-pop record stores in the country.

"I think it's great," said a woman browsing the aisles on opening day. "They have things that no one else carries."

"It's indie," said teenager Kyle Schnitzer when asked why he preferred Looney Tunes to the FYE just across the street. "I feel like I'm helping out the local scene." He echoed the general consensus that corporate-owned stores simply don't cater to the local interests of a given area. An associate at the West Bablyon FYE offered her input, telling Club Alley that in her experience, not many of their customers are looking for albums by local artists in particular. FYE does have an online service, LocalEyez, which promotes the sale of local and independent CDs. Judging by the following Looney Tunes has built over the years, and their ability to pack their store with loyal patrons within minutes of reopening, the owners may have touched upon a customer base that their competitors didn't even know existed.

Perhaps the most candid endorsement of the store came from a man in his early twenties, speaking loudly to his friend, "I f--king love this store, dude! I've supported this place since I was like 5!"

Looney Tunes website.

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