Transistor Moving from North Center to North Broadway With 'Crowdfunding'

The bookstore, art gallery and record store hybrid Transistor says they plan a more to East Lake View after a relocation to North Center nearly crushed their business, but now they need the public’s help.

Sitting at 3819 N. Lincoln Ave, the local business recently moved to the neighborhood from Andersonville. But owner Andy Miles says it may have been a mistake, citing the storefront’s location as a cause to almost go out of business. 

“This is what's happened: Our original Andersonville location had a good location, but the space itself and the building management were seriously problematic, so we moved to Lincoln Avenue at the end of July 2011,” Miles wrote on his new Indiegogo page. “At that current location we have enjoyed a good space and the building management is OK, but the location is problematic; it has just about killed the business.  In fact, as recently as June 10 we were preparing a going-out-of-business sale.”

Now Miles says he needs help from locals to get the eastward-bound move off the ground. He chose the high-trafficked location at 3441 N. Broadway St.—formerly home to Chic Antique—to relaunch his business.

Because funding has nearly run out and the store is facing “high monthly debt expenditures,” they need financing to make the move happen.

“Prior to finding the Broadway space Transistor had made a decision to shut down at the end of July, when our Lincoln Avenue lease expires. The news was met with repeated expressions of dismay, disappointment, and "Is there anything I can do to save Transistor?" queries.  Since community has always been the most important thing to Transistor, we thought the best course would be to let ourcommunity help shape our destiny ... to not only persuade us to look for a new space and continue on but to financially assist Transistor in its next chapter.”

Miles says he hopes to raise $6,500 in 60 days using the crowdfunding site Indiegogo to help facilitate the move. Thus far he’s raised more than $700 from 14 donors.

Donations range from $25, which gets the person 25 percent off their shopping, to $2,500—a move that Miles says he’ll reward with 50 percent off all items at Transistor for a year.