Isaac Slusarenko (of Jackpot Records)

[October 31st, 2007]

[INDIE ROCK] Weathering everything from the demise of grunge to the demise of Elliott Smith, Jackpot Records—a quality-controlled haven of vinyl and CDs focusing on “the best of what an artist has to offer”—has been a vital part of Portland’s music scene longer than most transplants have been out of high school. A former clerk at Django Records, owner Isaac Slusarenko, 35, opened Jackpot’s original Hawthorne location back in ’97 because he felt “there was a need for a store like Jackpot in Portland.” He was onto something, as the store—now in two locations and host to an annual film festival as well as a record label—is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. WW asked Slusarenko, a Portland native, to reflect on the past decade.

WW : What was the first album you ever purchased?

Slusarenko: The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, LP.

What was the biggest challenge to opening the store in 1997?

Probably the sheer volume of competition—Portland had the highest number of indie record stores per capita in the nation.

What is your biggest challenge now?

Once you open a second location, people think you are some big corporate entity and not a local business. I have overheard people say stuff to that effect, and it just blows my mind! So, I guess image. Another is getting our Pearl District neighbors to cross Burnside.

What’s Jackpot’s scariest, might-have-to-close moment?

The timing of opening a second location during a recession!

Discuss vinyl—and even CDs—in the face of MP3s, iPods, etc.

Vinyl never died. If you take care of your records, they sound fantastic even 25, 50 or 75 years later. I’m not sure we’ll be saying that about MP3s...MP3s are the cassette single of this generation. The sky is not falling in the music industry. We don’t cater to the singles-driven market—that’s what the majority of people download.

What bands are you currently rocking at the store?

It’s difficult for me to answer; this changes daily for me. This week I really liked Prints and MF Grimm. Ask me when you come in.