Local store's fate undetermined

by Peter Kowalke and Lauren McDowell
Staff Writers

Lack of communication by owners and operators of a Court Street record store led to confusion concerning its operation and future plans.

Jim Jezik, owner of Outer Limits Music and Clothing, 42 S. Court St., has reopened a second-hand clothing and record store after a two-month hiatus this summer. Managers’ Cullen Beach and Tim Sesher, informed Jezik in late June of their desire to close the store, but Jezik did not realize the decision was final until August.

"It closed without my knowledge," Jezik said. "I just assumed the store was running."

The managers closed the store to pursue other endeavors, Beach said. The money was not sufficient, and music was no longer an important part of their lives, he said.

"I'm 33;Tim's 37. You reach a point where you want to make more money," Beach said. "I want to do more than survive."

Beach and Sesher operated the store and controlled its inventory since it reopened as Outer Limits in 1996, Jezik said. Before that, the store was named Classic Clothing, and Jezik had full control.

Beach said he informed Jezik about the managers' desire to close the store, so it should not have been a surprise when he and Sesher left.

But Jezik was not the only one who unaware of the store's status.

Jezik said the property's owner, Ken Smith, called him and was confused when he stopped receiving rent payments.

After the store's closing, other people showed interest in the space, Smith said. But because of his good relationship with Jezik, Smith said he is holding the property until he knows the fate of the store.

"I would just like to know what is going on," Smith said.

The fate of the store is a decision that might not be reached anytime soon, Jezik said. For now Jezik will continue the up-keep and ownership of the store.

Music in the store is priced at 20 percent off the original price in order to move it quickly off the shelves, Jezik said. The second-hand clothing and costume inventory also has been increased because of Saturday's Halloween festivities.

Jezik said he will operate the store at least until the end of the school year as a used music and clothing store, with an emphasis on Halloween merchandise. Jezik's first store, Classic Clothing, also specialized in Halloween goods.

"We're making this up as we go," he said.