‘It means everything to me’: Plan 9 celebrates 44 years of music and community in Richmond’s Carytown area
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- On Friday, Plan 9 Music, a record shop in Richmond's Carytown area, is celebrating 44 years of music and community with a 20% discount off regular-priced items.
Plan 9 Music's birthday discount of 20% off regular-priced items is being honored until close at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 11, at the shop, located at 3017 W. Cary St. in Richmond's Carytown area.
8News Producer Annie Gallo visited the shop on Friday to learn more about what 44 years means to the owner, Jim Bland, and his family.
"It's great to still be here and serving our community, and the rise of vinyl has helped that greatly," Bland said.
Bland explained that Plan 9 has had multiple locations throughout Carytown over the years, with 12 of those spent at its current location.
Jim Bland, owner of Plan 9 Music at its location in Richmond's Carytown area. (Photo: Annie Gallo/8News)
When asked what inspired him to start the store, Bland said it all came down to his love of music and a desire to share it with the community.
"I was a hopeless music junkie, I would spend all of my disposable income on music," Bland said. "When I had the opportunity, I started working for some other stores, and eventually had the opportunity and interest to open one of my own with a partner."
Bland explained that the shop had humble beginnings, starting from a small collection of records from his personal collection.
"We opened very small with just a handful of as many of our own records as we could part with and a couple thousand bucks, that was about it, and we just grew from there."
Jim Bland's son, Chet Bland, also shared what the milestone means to him, as he has worked at Plan 9 since he was a kid and has been employed full-time since 2020.
Chet explained that he often hears stories throughout different generations about the store and its significance in the community.
"It means everything to me," Chet said. "There's now a multi-generational, built-in family dynamic."
As for his favorite things about the shop, he said they have to be the music and the people, which he said is like "being part of the same club, no matter what you like."
