Ruda’s Records is closing after 57 years of business
Don Ruda opened the store in 1950 to share his love of music with others
By Christopher Michel
Buffalo News
June 25, 2007
Ruda’s Records isn’t just another record store. It’s a place where the latest polka record can be bought and Polish heritage is celebrated. But after 57 years of business, Ruda’s Records will close its doors on Saturday. Opened in 1950, by Don and Virginia Ruda, Ruda’s Records became a Buffalo mainstay. Don Ruda opened the store not only to sell records, but to share his love of music with others. “My husband loved polka music and loved promoting it. He was the kind of guy who could play almost any tune on the accordion by ear. One of the reasons he opened the store in 1950 was so he could teach others how to play musical instruments,” Virginia Ruda said.
Over the years, Ruda’s Records had several locations in the heart of the Polonia district of Buffalo. Its most popular location was on Broadway. “During our time at our Broadway store, we had a large variety of records available. My husband always handled the polka music and I always handled the rock ’n’ roll.We always had the Billboard Top 40 records available,” Ruda said. In 1993, the Rudas decided to downsize and focus on only selling Polish items, moving from Broadway to William Street in Cheektowaga. Despite years of declining business, the decision to close was not easy for Ruda. “People aren’t coming in anymore. With computers, now more people are buying their music off the Internet or burning each other’s music. Business at my store has been going down because of that,” Ruda said. Even polka musicians are feeling the pinch from music sharing. Some polka bands that would sell thousands of CDs are now selling only a third of what the once did, Ruda said.
All music genres are being affected. “The issue is now people have more ways to access music,” said Larry Sanders, management information systems professor at the University at Buffalo. “The supply chain for music is different than it has been in the past, with programs like iTunes and Web sites like Amazon. com and being able to illegally share music.” Sanders said music being purchased online is having a dramatic effect on sales at both large chain music stores and small record stores, like Ruda’s Records. “There are a lot of different pressures in the music sales world now with downloading music online. This is hurting smaller record stores, and it’s sad to see them closing. They used to be a place where people could hang out and talk to a knowledgeable staff,” Sanders said. Virginia Ruda continued to run the store after her husband’s death in 1997 despite slowing sales.
“I love promoting Polish music, and this has been my whole life. I just didn’t see the need to stop and close the store. If I didn’t keep the store open, then there really wouldn’t have been a place like this to help people,” she said. Up until a few years ago, Ruda’s Records received more than 100 calls a month from customers asking questions on where to find unique Polish items or Polish events. In an e-mail, Jamie Bray said after her father stopped getting oplatek, the traditional Polish wafer eaten at Christmas, she came to rely on Ruda’s. “A couple of weeks before Christmas, probably in 1998, I realized I didn’t have oplatek. I’d never missed sharing the wafer with my family. My dad suggested I call this store in New York state. It was Ruda’s. They shipped my oplatek to my home in San Bernardino, California, along with some Polish Christmas CDs I ordered,” wrote Bray. Phil Martin was helped by Ruda as well, being put in contact with famed polka musician Jimmy Sturr. With her help, Martin’s song was put on Sturr’s latest Grammy-winning album and has gained much popularity. “Virginia really opened the door for me. Without her help, the song would have just been a good song and nothing would have happened with it,” Martin said.
The store welcomed many legends of polka music, like Frankie Yankovic and Li’l Wally Jagiello. For Sturr, winner of 16 Grammy Awards and known as “The Polka King,” Ruda’s Records will always hold a place in his heart. “I am disappointed the store is closing. For us in the polka music business, it’s a historical place,” said Sturr. “Many polka musicians would drive from all over to have their records sold at the store. They sold my records when I was getting my start 30 years ago.” After the store closes, Ruda does not intend to retire. She plans to stay active in the Polish community. Although she won’t be helping arrange polka dances anymore, she hopes to attend them all. “I’ve worked at this store for 57 years, and this is my life. I’m not the type that can sit and do nothing,” Ruda said.
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