By Kevin Collison
Shaun Crowley’s effort to help promote the local live music scene is landing in the West Bottoms where he plans to open a new Manor Records shop this October.
The new Manor Records is planned for the basement of what’s called the 12th Street Post building at 1501 W. 12th St. It’s a continuation of Crowley’s now-defunct record store in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of KCK.
That Manor Records opened in April 2022 at 401 N. Sixth St. in conjunction with a partner who opened a non-profit bar there. Before then, Crowley had run live house shows out of a basement in Shawnee for two years.
Shaun Crowley
“My dream was to do a record store and my partner wanted to do a non-profit bar,” he said referring to the Strawberry Hill place. “Unfortunately, we didn’t make it through the lease and closed in April.
“Since then, it’s been a transition for me.”
His Manor Fest live music festivals last May in Kansas City and Lawrence that featured a host of local acts did well. But the recently-turned 29 year-old wanted to get back into a more permanent location.
“I’m young and I have a potential trying this again,” Crowley said. “I’m trying to make my livelihood to support the artists.”
His new place in the Bottoms is joining a group of makers who’ve set up shop at 12th Street Post including the West Bottoms Plant Co. and a coffee shop. The building was a former post office.
12th Street Post was formerly a post office in the West Bottoms.
“We love the West Bottoms,” Crowley said. “We do events at Blip.”
His day job also is managing the Golden Ox cafe in the nearby Livestock Exchange Building.
The shop inventory will have about 4,000 records, half new and half used. He plans to be open Friday through Sunday and also will host live music in the space.
Crowleys plan calls for Manor Records to donate its profits to a new non-profit intended to help the local live music scene. Board members of the new organization are Skylar Rochelle, Kayla Jarrett and Connor Randell.
A fundraiser will be held at the new space at 12th Street Post on Sept. 16. The grand opening of Manor Records is scheduled for Oct. 6.
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