Nearly a decade after opening its doors by selling off personal guitars to stock empty shelves, Yooptone Music has transformed from a sparse neighborhood gear shop into a bustling hybrid record store and community hub. Over the years, co-owners Jeff Krebs and Jake Kuhlman expanded beyond basic instruments into extensive vinyl collections, CDs, and returning formats like cassettes. Built by local musicians serving fellow players and casual music lovers alike, the shop has cultivated a welcoming atmosphere that balances traditional retail with an ever-changing inventory tailored to the local scene.
To celebrate nine years in business, the store is hosting its official "Yooptone Day" on September 12th during regular business hours from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The festivities feature a mix of parking lot activities and community-focused entertainment, including a notoriously tricky guitar pedal toss contest, a rockstar costume competition, mystery swag bags, and door prizes for attendees. Inside, local musicians will take the stage at the guitar repair station for half-hour "Tiny Bench Concerts," which will be broadcast outside toward Third Street and live-streamed online.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Krebs and Kuhlman about Yooptone Day:
At its core, the celebration mirrors the lighthearted atmosphere the owners strive to maintain both in the store and across their humor-infused digital channels. Whether sharing unboxing videos online or organizing games outside, Krebs and Kuhlman see the event as a way to inject positivity into the neighborhood and thank the patrons who have supported them over the years. For the shop's owners, marking nine years is less about rigid business milestones and more about giving back to the community that made their vision possible.
Find out more at the Yooptone Music website.
