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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 31 M AY 1 3 , 2 0 2 4 F O C U S S M A L L B U S I N E S S But in the back of his mind, he had never forgotten that first record store that he had been blown away by. "I said, 'Screw it. I am not going to do what I am supposed to do. I am going to max out my credit cards and start a shop,'" Breton recalls. He opened Electric Buddhas in 1991 at the base of Munjoy Hill and has since moved around a bit. He started the store with his own record collection, but now he puts out the feelers and sees what he can get. "With vinyl's current popularity, it's more challenging than ever to find quality collections," says Breton. Breton says that vinyls have made people start to slow down in a fast- paced world where everything is quick and right at your fingertips. Listening to records means sitting and listening to one side of the album, and then you have to get up and flip it, unlike listen- ing to music streaming services, which offer instant gratification. "It is a real, tangible item; I guess the buzzword is physical media," says Breton. "When you listen to stream- ing music, you are like, 'Alexa, play the White Stripes,' and you are discon- nected from that. Yeah, you get the music, but it's not really something that you're intimately connected to. ere is an isolation with that." "With a record, you are involved," he continues. "You have the physical record itself, you have the artwork, you have the liner notes, and it kind of forces you to listen; that is what you are doing; it's not like you're doing it in the background. You really have to pay attention and be present. I mean, put the disk on the player, drop the needle, and listen. I think just that alone is extremely novel, especially to those who have grown up with the lack of physical media and the fact that it is intimate and real. You are connected to the spiritual aspect of listening to music." 2 Monument Square, Portland, ME | 207.773.7100 | dunhamgroup.com Put Our Collaborative Approach to Work for You. CREATIVITY. VISION. COLLABORATION. From envisioning exciting new chapters for underutilized buildings to helping an evolving business consolidate into one space, we are here to help our clients realize their vision for success. It is work that inspires us and humbles us. We love that we get to be a part of building up our communities and supporting the growth of Maine companies. At the heart of every deal we put together is a team of brokers committed to serving clients with creativity, collaboration, and open communication. It's how we've done business for over 45 years and will continue to do so for decades to come. Additional terms/fees may apply for some services. All applications subject to approval. When Bryon and Justin Tait of Casco Bay Steel were looking for a new bank, they talked to Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. We took the time to really understand their business, helped create additional borrowing availability, and provided tools to make the accounting operation run smoother—giving them the flexibility to grow and take on larger projects. To see this and other success stories, go to www.barharbor.bank/success-stories. Call 207-669-6811 today to connect with our Commercial Banking team. Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender Additional borrowing availability? www.barharbor.bank • 888-853-7100 Over 50 locations across northern New England We can make it happen. Together. They've given us the flexibility to grow and take on larger projects. '' '' — Justin Tait, Treasurer & CFO, Casco Bay Steel C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » It is a real, tangible item; I guess the buzzword is physical media. When you listen to streaming music … it's not really something that you're intimately connected to. There is an isolation with that. — Mike Breton Electric Buddhas

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