Iconic Val's Halla Records To Close After Nearly 50 Years

OAK PARK, IL — An iconic Oak Park business is planning to close its doors. Val's Halla Records, which has been a beloved spot in the city for nearly 50 years, announced Saturday that it will close at the end of November.

The news came in a heartfelt Facebook post from the record store's current owner, Shayne Blakely. He wrote, "It breaks my heart to announce this but unfortunately Val's Halla will be closing it's doors at the end of the month. "

He added, "Val's has been a huge part of so many people's lives over the decades and we'll never see its like again."

The post prompted a flood of comments, with many customers asking if they can do anything to help the store stay afloat. "The damage is done," Blakely wrote.

Other fans of Val's Halla Records wrote that they were "devastated" by the news of the store closing. Many customers shared memories they cherish from the store, many of them involving founder Val Camiletti, who died in 2018 after a battle with cancer.

"Val would be proud," one customer wrote.

The store plans to sell the "remaining stock and memorabilia" in the coming weeks.