(portland, February 4, 2026) — After 55 years of operation, Music Millennium, Portland’s oldest record store, is seeking a new owner.
Terry Currier, the store’s longtime owner, announced his intention to find a successor to continue the legacy of the iconic music retailer.
- Terry Currier, 70, has owned Music Millennium since 1969.
- The store has hosted numerous famous musicians over the years, including Joe Strummer and Sheryl Crow.
- Currier is open to selling the business and building, or just the business, and is willing to assist with a transition.
- The store’s continued success bucks a national trend of record store closures, especially in the early 2000s.
Terry Currier, now 70, announced his plans to find a buyer in a recent Instagram post, explaining that it’s “time to find a successor to keep Music millennium going for many years to come.†He discovered the store as a 17-year-old and has been involved with it ever since.
Music millennium, which opened in 1969, has become a Portland institution, selling records, CDs, 8-tracks, and cassettes.Currier told OPB he wants to ensure the building remains a part of Portland’s landscape and that the store continues to thrive.
“I’ve turned down every offer from developers that have called over the years wanting to buy the building,†he said. “I want that building to be a part of Portland’s landscape forever.Plus,I want Music Millennium to be in it for just as many years.â€
The store has hosted a variety of well-known musicians over the years, including Joe Strummer, Sheryl Crow, Everclear, and Cheap Trick, solidifying its place in the city’s cultural scene.
Vinyl’s Revival- Vinyl sales have surged in recent years, defying earlier predictions of decline. In 2023,vinyl revenue exceeded $1.4 billion, marking the highest total since 1988, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Why It Matters
Music Millennium’s search for a new owner comes at a pivotal moment for self-reliant record stores. While thousands of stores closed in the early 2000s with the rise of digital music downloads, vinyl sales have experienced a significant resurgence in recent years.According to Currier, the pandemic even boosted business as families rediscovered physical music. The store’s continued success demonstrates the enduring appeal of the record store experience and the importance of preserving cultural landmarks in a rapidly changing retail landscape.
Currier noted the pandemic proved beneficial, with families rediscovering vinyl collections. “We started seeing parents and their kids, and their grandparents shopping in the store together,†he told OPB. “Actually wanting ownership in physical music.â€
Currier is also credited with popularizing the “Keep Portland Weird†slogan, printing the first stickers to encourage support for local businesses.
Store’s Longevity- Music Millennium opened during a pivotal time in music history, just months before the Woodstock festival. It has adapted to changing formats, from vinyl to 8-track, cassette, CD, and back to vinyl.
currier said he is already receiving inquiries from potential buyers and plans to focus on caring for his wife, who has Alzheimer’s, and organizing his personal music collection of 30,000 records and CDs once a successor is found.
“I’ll downsize that to a manageable amount so I can listen for the rest of my life,†he said.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by OPB and added independent analysis and context.
