Venus Hi-Fi will be moving in 2005...

[BrianB]

...from Bloomington, Indiana to Michigan (either East Lansing or Grand Rapids). This will be a good move for us, as my wife and I have lots of family and friends there.

This could also wind up being a good move for many of you fellow AKers, as Venus Hi-Fi will be listing a number of "moving sale" items here. We're going to have a lot of stuff to haul up north, and I'd like to reduce the number of large audio components and inventory units that need to be transported to our new locale. And even though the move is about a year away, I'm going to start listing some of these "moving sale" items soon. Expect to see some great deals on Living Voice loudspeakers, Kuzma turntables and tonearms, and so on in the not-too-distant future! :D

Happy listening,
Brian

[qboneus]

cool!
I'll be watching and starting to save some coin.
I've bought plenty from individual posters here, so it's just about time I purchased from one of our board vendors.

Tal

[Dave918]

O boy!!! :yippy:

Just kidding, although I will be looking for a new TT soon :D
I knew you were looking at a possible move Brian. Sounds like things are coming together.

-Dave

[opt80]

Brian,
If you are going to move,move to PEI,we are in need of a mid to hi endaudio shop.Your wife could commute.I mean,Michigan,really!

Alan

PS congratulations

[grumpy]

Ah Did I hear someone mention Tonearms ?;)

[Wardsweb]

Hey, San Antonio has better weather and includes:
University of Texas @ San Antonio
St. Mary's University
Trinity University
Texas State University
University of Texas Health Science Center
Our Lady of the Lake University
University of the Incarnate Word
Wayland Baptist University
and I won't even go into the colleges.

[botrytis]

Brian,

Congratulations is in order. Finally - a decent stereo dealer is coming to the Lansing area and I am looking for another job - oh well (in other parts of the USA) :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

Dave

[VinylHanger]

This is looking to be a great summer here, and I am still bummed I couldn't swing the Kuzma you had last year. Maybe, if my wife will let me. She has become very tolerant of my collecting and hobbies lately......... Hmmmmm, maybe I should start to worry.
I'll be looking forward to your posts.

[ProAc_Fan]

Yahoo cheaper shipping !!!! :D Please get as close to N.Falls as you can Brian. Not too close though or I'll end up divorced and sleeping in your stock room. :p:


Mike

[Reel 2 Reel]

Originally posted by ProAc_Fan
I'll end up divorced and sleeping in your stock room. :p:


Mike

And the problem with this is ....where????

[BrianB]

Thanks, guys! And yeah, I'm really looking forward moving back to Michigan...

[spkrman57]

I too will be looking for the deals as they show up. I know you don't want to have to move all that stuff, so we will help you out.
Cheers, Ron

[Billfort]

Congrats Brian, I remember you telling me you where considering this, closer to friends and family can sure be a nice thing sometimes.

Hey, does this mean you might consider holding your big 2005 Audiofest in Michigan??? Sure would be nice for us Ontario folk! :D

[Ski]

Congratulations and I look forward to the sales. Beautiful downtown Wyandotte really needs a hi-fi store too. ;)

[BrianB]

Originally posted by Billfort
Hey, does this mean you might consider holding your big 2005 Audiofest in Michigan??? Sure would be nice for us Ontario folk! :D

That's a VERY good question, Bill! I do think that Michigan would draw more of a crowd than Indiana for a number of reasons. But, truth be told, neither East Lansing nor Grand Rapids has nearly as much local musical talent as Bloomington - and I'm hoping to provide some really good entertainment at the event.

[Billfort]

Yes Brian, the live music was a nice part of the last MAF, but it was only 1 group per evening and a local blues/rock bar I liked, certainly not a big live music event.

I guess I'm lobbying for michigan because it's drivable from Toronto in a weekend, Bloomington isn't (at least not for me EchoWars :) ) .

[botrytis]

Brian,

There is actually a pretty decent Blues scene around Lansing. They even have a Blues Society in Lansing.

Dave

[BrianB]

Originally posted by botrytis
There is actually a pretty decent Blues scene around Lansing. They even have a Blues Society in Lansing.

That's good to know. Still, Bloomington's jazz, folk, and alternative rock scenes are hard to beat - and I've got the connections to put together a jaw-dropping musical roster here...

In all likelihood, though, the event will now be taking place in Michigan.

[millerdog]

Good for you BrianB!!!
I hope this move will help you and your family grow.:D
My Best to your family,
Jeff

[MikE]

Brian, glad to hear that everything worked out for you and the family. Are you closer or further away [from Columbus] now?

MikE

[grumpy]

Mike

Lansing Michigan is roughly 25 miles farther then Bloomington Indiana. My guess is its about the same driving distance to Brian as it was to the Fest.

Grumpy

[whell]

I graduated from Michigan State University in E Lansing. I'd vote for E Lansing any day over the music scene in Grand Rapids. (No offence intended here. I happen to love the west side of the state for many other reasons).

E Lansing is pretty fertile ground for HiFi, IMHO, due to the high concentration of students with money to burn (though I never had much $$ to burn in my college days), and professors whose music tastes are divergent, but needs for a good system to reproduce music on are consistent.

Lastly, for selfish reasons, I get to the Lansing area alot for business, and would love to stop in.

[BrianB]

Well, it's looking more and more like East Lansing is where we're going to wind up next year...

[BrianB]

Okay, after many weeks of focusing on East Lansing - due mainly to its college town atmosphere - my wife and I are now gravitating towards East Grand Rapids. Any comments on this area from you Michiganders?

[JonTee]

Brian,

Are you establishing residence or basing your store there?

Grand Rapids is a nice city with a diverse population and cultural base. I worked there for 15 years and would have gladly lived there if my wife had not already established tenure as a teacher where we are now. I have friends that live in Cascade, a suburb on the east side, and like it very much.

Jon

[BrianB]

Originally posted by JonTee
Are you establishing residence or basing your store there?

Both. In fact, I'm giving serious thought to having a home-based shop in Michigan. The advantages of such an arrangement are obvious:

1) Minimal overhead expenses.

2) No need to hire employees to cover times that I am not available - I'll simply operate on a "by appointment" basis.

3) I can listen to and play around with any of my gear whenever I want, whithout having to drive anywhere.

Happy listening!

[Punker X]

Originally posted by BrianB
Okay, after many weeks of focusing on East Lansing - due mainly to its college town atmosphere - my wife and I are now gravitating towards East Grand Rapids. Any comments on this area from you Michiganders?

From a business stand point, I think there will be competition in EGR, while I don't think there is a high end audio shop in Lansing. From a residence, you will get more snow the closer to the lake you are. I'd rather measure snow in inches and not feet.

X

[BrianB]

Originally posted by Punker X
From a business stand point, I think there will be competition in EGR, while I don't think there is a high end audio shop in Lansing. From a residence, you will get more snow the closer to the lake you are. I'd rather measure snow in inches and not feet.

X

Having spent all but the last few years of my life near the Great Lakes, snow doesn't bother me in the least. As far as competition in East Grand Rapids goes, can you tell me anything about the area's audio shop(s)?

[Punker X]

Brian,

Not sure about brick and mortar shops, but there's a guy thats on Audiogon all the time, Plateau Audio, seller name "Aslater"

Of course I'd love you in East Lansing is only 45 minutes drive, where Grand Rapids is twice as far.

X

[Punker X]

Forgot, you will be very close to AudioAdvisor also. They are in Kentwood.

X

[spkrman57]

Will you be further away from Columbus, Ohio than you are now? Not that I can complain as I never made it to Bloomington, but it seems Michigan as a whole has quite a few great audtiophiles there, seems to outnumber the Ohioans it seems.
Ron

[BrianB]

Hi X,

Well, it looks to me like Plateau Audio deals exclusively in used high-end audio gear - an internet search didn't reveal any manufacturers or distributors who list them as an authorized dealer. So we're playing different games, really.

As far as Audio Advisor goes, there is indeed some overlap with Venus Hi-Fi in terms of budget lines like Creek, Grado, and Music Hall. Then again, nearly every dealer in the country carries these products, so I'm not too worried. Plus, I rather doubt that Audio Advisor will ever carry the lines that I think of as defining Venus Hi-Fi (Almarro, Audio Note, Blue Circle, Shahinian Acoustics, Yamamoto Sound Craft, and so on). And Audio Advisor does not have a showroom - you can't go there and listen to anything that they sell. Once more, a very different game.

Cheers,
Brian

[BrianB]

Originally posted by spkrman57
Will you be further away from Columbus, Ohio than you are now? Not that I can complain as I never made it to Bloomington, but it seems Michigan as a whole has quite a few great audtiophiles there, seems to outnumber the Ohioans it seems.

Hi Ron,

Yes, we'll (unfortunately) be a bit farther away from Columbus...

Cheers,
Brian

[WhiteSE]

I did grad school in East Lansing, and I loved the place....Next to it is Okemos,,,and that is money area.

Also there is one of the best guitar stores Ederly...awesome shop...

[BrianB]

Yes, I know the area very well. And I LOVE Elderly Instruments!

[WhiteSE]

Originally posted by BrianB
Yes, I know the area very well. And I LOVE Elderly Instruments!

I had a hunch I was missing that first 'L'...

[JonTee]

There is only one surviving brick and mortar shop that handles tube equipment that I am aware of and it is in Kentwood also. They handle Audio Research, Rogue, as well as solid state from Theta, Nad, Arcam. Their TT's include Nottingham as well as MF. The McIntosh dealer there went out of business a year ago after 30 years of business (not a good sign). The main big dealer left is HT oriented and does not offer the more esoteric type of equipment or tubes as you do.

I would like to see you in the E. Lansing area also, but you may have a larger population base for the high end equipment you sell in the GR area. The Lansing area is and will continue to grow because of the new GM plants that are being built here. They are going to attract more businesses as GM wants there vendors to be on sight to cut costs for shipping and warehousing. So there is still good reason to consider E.L. besides the university.

Jon

[BrianB]

Originally posted by JonTee
There is only one surviving brick and mortar shop that handles tube equipment that I am aware of and it is in Kentwood also. They handle Audio Research, Rogue, as well as solid state from Theta, Nad, Arcam. Their TT's include Nottingham as well as MF.

Actually, I consider the presence of such a dealer to be a plus. For one thing, all of the above lines fall into the white bread "Stereophile Recommended Component" category of high-end audio components. Not that there's anything wrong with mainstream high-end audio, but this is exactly the type of shop that I am trying to offer an alternative to. Plus, the existence of such a shop indicates that there are some serious audiophiles in the area. Who knows - maybe some of them might be willing to spend a bit less in order to get a bit more... ;)

As far as the whole East Grand Rapids versus East Lansing issue goes, our final decision will be based on a number of factors, most having little to do with Venus Hi-Fi. For instance, East Grand Rapids would put us much closer to a number of relatives on both sides of the family.

[BrianB]

It's official now: We're moving to East Lansing.

[spkrman57]

Keep us in the loop Brian!
Ron

[BrianB]

Will do, Ron!

[gonzp]

Drove through Bloomington Indiana late last week on the way to Indy for the Klipsch Pilgrimage. Beautiful area Brian.

[BrianB]

Drove through Bloomington Indiana late last week on the way to Indy for the Klipsch Pilgrimage. Beautiful area Brian.

In my opinion, Bloomington is at it's best in the spring (lots of flowers) and the fall (autumn folliage that rivals that of the East Coast!). I always hated Bloomington in the summer (too hot and humid) and the winter (very little snow, but lots of ice and mud).

Did you have a chance to check out any of the independent record shops during your visit? If so, you no doubt noticed that vinyl is alive and well in Bloomington, Indiana!

[spkrman57]

How soon before your shop is back in business?

Ron

[BrianB]

Hi Ron,

Well, I'm already back in business in terms of phone and internet sales, but it looks like it's still going to be another couple of weeks before the shop is ready for visitors. I've got some work to do to get the listening rooms fully functional...

Cheers,
Brian

[botrytis]

Brian,

2:31 Am for a reply? Don't you ever get any sleep?

Dave

[BrianB]

Nope! :D