Long-time owner may sell Schoolkids Records & Tapes

JULY 26 1998

By CATHARINE O'DONNELL

NEWS STAFF REPORTER 

Steve Bergman, long-time owner of Schoolkids Records & Tapes, may soon sell the well-known business to Jim Leonard.

Last year, Bergman sold Leonard SKR Classical, located several doors down from Schoolkids on East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor. Leonard had managed SKR, which specializes in classical music and opened in 1986, for several years.

“We’re talking, but nothing’s been signed,” said Bergman on Friday night. Leonard acknowledged the same thing, emphasizing that exact terms haven’t been worked out.

Bergman, 44, declined to say why he may sell the shop, which he opened 22 years ago after running a records cooperative at the University of Florida. Initially, Schoolkids covered only 1,000 square feet, but eventually Bergman expanded it to 7,000. In 1993, he started the Schoolkids record label with such local artists as Mr. B and George Bedard and the Kingpins. By 1996 the label listed 50 recordings.

Bergman has also been a leader among downtown merchants, having served as president of the State Street Area Association.

Catharine O'Donnell covers retailing, real estate and other business news. She can be reached at (734) 994-6831.