by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
When Burro Bags owner Christopher Williams moved his business Downtown in April, he not only brought with him the sewing machines and other equipment needed to make the one-of-a-kind messenger bags, he also brought a philosophy.
At the previous location in Springfield, Burro Bags shared a building with a bicycle shop and a record store.
After moving into The Letter Shop, the former home of Futch Printing & Mailing on East Forsyth Street, Burro Bags once again has some commercial roommates, this time a record shop and a retail store for the messenger bags and apparel decorated by local craftspeople.
“We sell our bags in the store and there are T-shirts on consignment. Everything is crafted by locals. It’s all made or printed in North Florida,” said Williams. “It’s handmade with an artistic philosophy. That has served us well and it’s great to share the space.”
The other side of the storefront is the Diamond Mine record shop, which specializes in 12-inch vinyl phonograph records, the recording technology long before the invention of the MP3 or even the compact disc.
Just about any genre of recorded music from almost any era can be found by going through the stacks of used LPs. It’s a form of recording that has come back into vogue among music enthusiasts and collectors. Records start at $1 each and even the most rare example is no more than $20.
“It’s vintage and nostalgic and people think it’s fun to listen to the crackles and pops,” said store employee Ursula Thomson.
Many older recordings have never been issued on CD nor are they available for download.
“You can find a treasure for a couple of bucks and album cover art is something you don’t get with a download,” said Thomson.
Diamond Mine also sells snacks and soft drinks that you don’t find most places, including Jamaican root beer and coconut water.
The move by Burro Bags to a new neighborhood and the affiliation with Diamond Mine added new life to the street in front of the Yates Building, home of the Duval County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector’s offices. Most days, music playing in the record shop drifts out onto the street.
Williams said the proximity to government offices and law firms means there’s a diverse group of people discovering the shops.
“We get everybody from attorneys and people who work in the public defender’s office to people paying their property taxes or waiting for the bus,” said Williams. “It’s a crazy block.”
This Downtown landmark on East Forsyth Street has taken on a new life.
Burro Bags and T-shirts decorated by local artists are on display and for sale in the front of the building.
Vinyl record albums from all eras and all genres of music can be found at Diamond Mine.
356-2466