Record Store Owner Will Quit Business Because of Citation for Illegal Concerts

The owner of Bebop Records and Fine Art in Reseda--a performing center for offbeat singers, songwriters and poets since 1982--said Tuesday that the store will close at the end of the month because police cited him for holding concerts without a license.

Police cited him Friday night for failing to have an entertainment license, said the owner, Richard Bruland. He said police allowed Friday’s show by the Apache Dancers, a country-rock band, to continue, but forbade any future musical concerts.

Police Sgt. Mark Williams said officers had recently noticed people congregating in front of the store and conducted a routine check to see if it had a license.

“It’s just the kind of thing we check on all the time,” Williams said. “We’re not trying to put the guy out of business, but he’s got to abide by the same rules as everyone else.”

Although he is not obligated by law to close the store, Bruland said it would not be financially possible to pay the rent without money generated by the concerts, and he cannot afford to keep the store open while he applies for a license.

No admission has been charged for the shows, which usually drew about a dozen people, but “that’s how I’ve gotten people into the store,” he said. “If I have no performances, how am I going to get people to come in and buy records? There’s too much competition from other stores.”

Bruland said police never troubled him before, even though he has never had an entertainment license.

Bebop, which sells mostly old and offbeat records, has featured performers such as Los Lobos, Jane’s Addiction and Exene Cervenka. The store has operated one step from closure throughout most of its existence, Bruland said. Several benefit concerts, including one three months ago, were held to keep the store alive.

“I have mixed feelings,” he said. “I always felt a great responsibility to the community to keep the store open because it’s been important for poets and local musicians, but I also feel a sense of relief because of the difficulty of scraping to pay the rent.”