By Dinorah Prevost
One of the memorable scenes from the 1995 movie “Empire Records” involves a heavy metal band named GWAR.
Mark, an employee, sits on the couch in the record store’s backroom, watching a GWAR music video on an old-school television set while eating weed brownies. All the band members are wearing what look like space monster costumes, with a few in jockstraps as well.
After a show at Jannus Live one time, a 6-foot-tall GWAR member walked up Central Avenue in full costume and “assless” chaps to sign autographs at Daddy Kool’s original St. Petersburg store down the street.
Store manager Emanuel “Manny Kool” Matalon laughed as he recalled that memory from the record store’s time on Central Avenue. The store was buzzing Saturday afternoon for its last sidewalk sale.
It opened there for the last time March 23, a staple on the block for 20 years.
For me, there have always been a few things about Daddy Kool that kept me coming back. Here are some of the memories and oddities I’ll miss about 666 Central Ave.
1. I often walked to Daddy Kool from campus during freshman and sophomore year (back when I had a lot more time on my hands and before journalism took over my life).
The door cheekily announces “Push it. Push it real good,” in reference to the Salt-N-Pepa song “Push It.” I definitely noticed it. Yet, the two aluminum handlebars tricked me, and I always pulled it instead.
I’d like to think I gave the employees sitting at the registers a few chuckles.
2. I’ll admit that I was strapped for a compelling start to this story, minutes after leaving the store on March 23. So I sat across the street at Brew D Licious, a coffee shop, to think… and stare back at the storefront.
It wasn’t until then that the meaning of “VI VI VI” on the window pane above the door hit me. Yes, it’s ironic, because I’ve walked under it hundreds of times for almost four years.
3. 666 Central Avenue has the “hole-in-the-wall” feel that St. Pete’s other well-known record stores don’t have.
Planet Retro Records moved out of its hole on Central and into a standalone building over two years ago. Bananas Music’s retail store has been a spacious standalone on 22nd Avenue N for ages.
Daddy Kool’s small aisles, packed with six rows of vinyl and CDs, were delightfully cozy. Add the $5 bins at the front of the store (where I often shopped) and it felt like heaven.
4. I’m bemoaning the move to the Warehouse Arts District for one reason. Where am I supposed to go after picking up a new CD? The new Black Crow Coffee blocks away?
Two summers ago, when I had whole afternoons to myself, I’d regularly stop at Brew D Licious across the street. There, I’d unwrap the plastic and pour over the liner notes. Yes, I’m a nerd.
But just as I’m graduating and moving on soon, so is the store. Bigger ambitions for me, bigger store for Daddy Kool.
