A Kansas City icon is closing its doors for good. I'm talking about 7th Heaven, the record store on Troost Avenue.

How big is the news that 7th Heaven is closing? It made the news. The Kansas City Star wrote a story about it, Kansas City TV stations reported on it, and it even made AOL. Okay, AOL, like 7th Heaven, isn't as huge as it was at one time. Still, it's national coverage. Yet, it's not that surprising to me.

When we vacationed in Kansas City, I remember hearing about 7th Heaven on Kansas City radio stations, probably KY102, my favorite. Back then, it seemed like a BIG THING, and it's a place many people in the Kansas City area had some experience with.

7th Heaven, though, was more than a Kansas City thing. They were in Overland Park, Blue Springs, Sugar Creek, and Kansas City on the Kansas side. They had locations in Lawrence and Sedalia, right on South Limit Avenue.

I love the stories my friends have about the Sedalia store. They range from the place where they got their first record to popping in to buy stickers or patches to the fact that some were forbidden to go there because of the "tobacco" pipes and accessories they sold. The Sedalia location, depending on the story and who is telling it, indeed developed a reputation with the City, and yet, all these years later, it's still missed and thought of with much affection.

I've personally experienced 7th Heaven on Troost, and I loved it the first time I walked in. From the perfumey incense that assaulted my nostrils to the vinyl being pumped through the store, it was a throwback to the record stores I remember growing up with. Not many have survived; those hit slightly differently when you walk into them.

While I've only had the chance to visit a handful of times, I've always walked out with a stack of wax, some of it used, some of it new, and some of it for a steal of a price. I hope to return one last time, if not to buy anything, to soak up the vibe again and enjoy one last conversation about the music with the staff. Oh, who am I kidding? I'll walk out of there with a bunch of records... and another T-shirt.

The Kansas City Star says owner Jan Fichman hasn't set a firm closing date, but he's considering closing sometime in November. The final closing date might be determined by how quickly he can sell the 36,000 used records and smoking accessories, which are on sale now. 7th Heaven is located at 7621 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, 64131.

Editor's note: For the uninitiated, 7th Heaven on Troost's back rooms are dedicated to smoking accessories and items that bring couples closer together. I only mention this so that if you take young folks record shopping, you can limit yourself to the part of the store dedicated to music. For adventurous, curious adults, those back rooms might be an exciting part of your adventure. 

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