
Immediately after Sudden Death Of Chicago Ray Records Proprietor Ray Pate, Relatives Internet hosting Liquidation Sale Ahead of Closing Rogers Park Retail outlet
ROGERS PARK — Ray Pate was a friendly and compassionate presence, usually uncovered behind the counter of the history outlets he owned and the taverns he operated.
Pate was a organic, providing his institutions an air of Chicago authenticity and making friends with any one who stepped in, reported his daughter, Olivia Pate.
“Lots of men and women have been contacting him the quintessential Chicago guy,” she reported. “He definitely was.
“The phrase I’ve been applying is ‘ultimate existence of the social gathering.’ He experienced that quintessential bartender electricity. He could chat to anybody and he could hear to anybody.”
Ray Pate, the owner of Chicago Ray Documents in Rogers Park and the previous owner of several other North Facet record merchants and bars, died previous month at 64. His funeral company was Wednesday, the day after what would have been his 65th birthday.
Chicago Ray Records, 7051 N. Clark St., will close this weekend right after a liquidation sale. The sale is a way to wind down the retail store when serving as a testament to Pate and his like of songs, his daughter mentioned.
“My sisters and I would like to have the music and other merchandise go to superior properties,” Olivia Pate reported. “We know my father would like that.”
The sale will take spot 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at Chicago Ray Records. The store’s assortment of vinyl, CDs, cassettes, stereo products and other merchandise will be supplied at steep savings, Pate mentioned.
Ray Pate opened Chicago Ray Data in August 2020 in his house community of Rogers Park. It was just the newest business enterprise for the lifelong North Sider.
Pate earlier owned RPM New music at 1839 W. Irving Park Highway, which was in company 2016-2018. A dispute with the landlord forced RPM to near, but it gave Pate the chance to open a store in a community he understood very well.
“The plan was to always open up all over again and transfer into Rogers Park for the reason that it is required listed here,” Pate formerly reported. “People who buy records are transferring listed here. Rents are likely up and they can find a deal in this article.”

Just before getting into the record store organization, Pate was a tavern operator.
He and a business enterprise associate opened Players on Clark in Lakeview in 1990 in the shadow of Wrigley Discipline. Just after renting the total developing, which include the bar, Pate moved into the condominium previously mentioned Gamers, he advised the Chicago Tribune in 1992.
Soon after that, Pate opened Simply Ray’s in Ravenswood, which lasted for a several decades in the 1990s, Olivia Pate mentioned.
Linked: Chicago Ray Information Opens In Rogers Park, Providing Classic Vinyl and Tie-Dye Tees
Pate’s welcoming enthusiasm was on display at Chicago Ray Information. In weekly movies on the store’s Facebook web site, Pate would film himself likely via the store’s newest vinyl, his enjoy of audio on comprehensive exhibit.

The very last movie was posted on Jan. 18.
Pate died Jan. 20 from complications of a reduce body vein problem he experienced endured for yrs, Olivia Pate explained. Even with the ongoing ailment, Pate was or else healthful and his dying came as a shock to spouse and children and friends.
“It was really unexpected,” Olivia Pate explained. “Right up until finally then, he was carrying out all the things at the store by himself.”
Given that Pate’s death, pals and buyers have attained out to his family members with tales of his kindness and friendship. Buddies assisted raise $8,000 for Pate’s funeral arraignments.
The tales have served the family members cope with their decline, Olivia Pate stated.
“It’s been awesome for me and my sisters to hear,” she reported. “We’ve figured out so substantially of who he was to his friends. It’s just a great community of individuals.”
Pals and shoppers will have one more opportunity to honor Pate by producing use of his substantial report selection. Clients coming to the retail outlet this weekend are requested to bring their individual bags or bins to haul out information. Funds and digital payments by using Venmo and Zelle will be accepted.
“We could have gotten rid of the information or donated them,” Olivia Pate said. “We want to get them into the arms of people today who will enjoy it.”

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