Michael Pawlicki, who has run The Ghost of Eastside Records (also known as Double Nickels), anticipated that a buyer would be in place by the time he marked his final day behind the counter on June 30. After a period of transition planning, Pawlicki has secured a buyer for the longtime Phoenix record shop.
Pawlicki had been working toward what he described as a smooth handoff, aiming to leave the shop in capable hands as he concluded his time behind the counter. The sale fulfills that expectation: a new owner is poised to take over operations when Pawlicki steps away.
The shop’s identity, long established under the names The Ghost of Eastside Records and Double Nickels, has been closely tied to the neighborhood and to patrons who have frequented its aisles. Those connections were central to the conversations around the sale and to Pawlicki’s own emphasis on arranging a seamless transition.
The incoming owner has indicated an intention to keep the shop’s historic vibe intact. That aim — to preserve the character and atmosphere that have defined the store for years — was a point of emphasis as the transition moved toward completion.
Shoppers browse rows of vinyl inside The Ghost of Eastside Records, the longtime Phoenix record shop the new owner says he hopes to preserve.
Pawlicki’s plan had been to have everything lined up by the end of June so that his last day on the floor would coincide with the beginning of a new chapter for the shop. With a buyer now secured, the change in ownership is set to occur as he steps away from his daily role behind the counter.
As the handoff approaches, the shop’s patrons and the wider community will be watching how the new owner balances continuity with any future changes. For now, the immediate outcome of the sale is that Pawlicki will move on after June 30, and a new proprietor has expressed a commitment to maintaining the shop’s established atmosphere.