Music Millennium owner Terry Currier seeks a successor to carry Portland record store into next era

A landmark independent retailer begins planning for leadership transition

Music Millennium, a long-running Portland record store founded in 1969, is preparing for a change in ownership as longtime owner Terry Currier says he is ready to step back and is looking for a successor to keep the business operating. Currier has indicated he is open to a transition period in which he would help train and support a new owner to maintain continuity in day-to-day operations.

Currier has also outlined two possible transaction paths: selling the business together with the building, or selling the business separately while establishing a long-term lease intended to provide stability for the next operator. He has said he has previously declined purchase interest from developers for the property, emphasizing a desire for the store and its building to remain part of Portland’s cultural landscape.

From neighborhood store to regional institution

Music Millennium’s history spans major shifts in how music is sold and consumed—from the rise of national music retailers to the transition to digital downloads and streaming, followed by a resurgence in vinyl demand. Currier joined the store in the mid-1980s, later becoming its owner. Over time, the Burnside location became known for a large inventory and for hosting in-store events, including performances and signings that connected artists and audiences in a retail setting.

The business has also navigated contraction. In 2007, the company closed its Northwest 23rd Avenue location, consolidating operations around its East Burnside store. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the store temporarily closed to in-person shopping for a period and relied on alternative sales methods before resuming normal operations.

What succession could mean for staff, inventory, and the storefront

The successor search raises practical questions common to independent retail transitions: how to manage a specialized, high-volume inventory; how to sustain relationships with distributors and labels; and how to preserve event programming that can function both as community engagement and a sales driver. Currier’s stated willingness to provide hands-on transition support suggests an effort to reduce operational risk for a new owner.

• Ownership options include purchasing both business and building, or acquiring the business with a long-term lease.
• A transition period is being offered to familiarize a successor with operations and vendor relationships.
• Continuity of in-store events and specialty ordering is likely to be central to any long-term plan.

Music Millennium has been operating since 1969, making it one of the region’s longest-running brick-and-mortar record stores.

Next steps

No successor has been publicly identified. Currier’s announcement signals the start of a search process that will likely involve evaluating prospective buyers’ financial capacity as well as their ability to run a culturally significant, event-oriented retail business in a changing music marketplace.