Bull Moose is an independent retailer and record store chain based in Portland, Maine, United States. The chain has operated since 1989, and has eight locations in Maine and three in New Hampshire.
History
Bull Moose was founded by Brett Wickard in Brunswick, Maine, in 1989, though he did not file it as a business corporation until 1995. Bull Moose was started with $37,000. Chris Brown was hired in 1991 as a clerk and later became the creator of Record Store Day and the company's Vice President.
They were covered by Bloomberg for using predictive algorithms to drive media sales.
On January 4, 2022, it was announced that Bull Moose would be sold to its 140 employees. Founder Brett Wickard stayed on as interim CEO and chair of the board during the transition. In January 2022, Bull Moose became 100% employee-owned and created an employee stock-ownership plan for its over 170 employees across its eleven stores.
In May 2022, Bull Moose named Shawn Nichols as its new president and CEO, with Wickard remaining on as chairman.
In December 2022, it was announced that Bull Moose's Sanford, Maine, location would be closing after 25 years and that a new location would be opened in Biddeford, Maine. The new store opened in early 2023. The stores in Portsmouth and Salem, New Hampshire, also closed and relocated, replaced with new locations in Newington and Plaistow.
Record Store Day In 2007, when Brown was head of Bull Moose marketing, an email chain with Michael Kurtz, head of the Department of Record Stores, sparked the idea for Record Store Day. Each year, the co-founders at the Department of Record Stores collaborate with multiple artists for exclusive releases made especially for Record Store Day. The releases for 2017 included works from David Bowie, Prince and St. Vincent. The Department of Record Stores keeps a list of participating independent record stores.
LEGO Fire Walk The Bull Moose Facebook account posted an image of a LEGO Fire Walk they created at the store in South Portland, Maine, to promote sales of The LEGO Movie on June 19, 2014. It was shared by Star Trek actor George Takei and subsequently went viral. It was also covered by local news.
Music events Bull Moose is locally known for their in-store music events with musicians like The Decemberists, Mumford and Sons and Wilco.
Bull Moose has hosted the following artists: ArtistDate of Performance or SigningLocationNoteworthy InformationThe Dresden DollsLive Performance on February 6, 2005Scarborough, MaineRegina SpektorLive Performance on June 5, 2005Scarborough, MaineSpektor released a live EP of her performance in August 2005.Click Five Live Performance in early 2006Scarborough, MaineClick Five released a live EP of their performance in March 2006.Rocco DelucaAutograph Signing on July 16, 2006Scarborough, MaineKiefer Sutherland attended to promote Deluca.Amanda Palmer (of The Dresden Dolls)Autograph Signing on September 17, 2008Portland, MaineDisturbedAutograph Signing on April 18, 2009Portland, MaineAni DiFrancoLive Performance on April 17, 2009Scarborough, MaineAni DiFranco performed at 1pm. A live album, "Ani DiFranco/Live at Bull Moose 4-17-2009" was later self-released through DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records.Killswitch EngageAutograph Signing on April 17, 2009Scarborough, MaineKillswitch Engage signed autographs at 4pmThe DecemberistsLive Performance on January 30, 2011Scarborough, MaineThe Decemberists released a live EP of their performance in March 2011.Mumford & SonsLive Performance on August 3, 2012Scarborough, MaineMumford & Sons released a live EP of their performance in April 2013Imagine DragonsLive Performance on September 10, 2012Scarborough, MaineJohn Densmore (of The Doors)Autograph Signing on April 20, 2013Scarborough, MaineThis was a launch for Densmore's book, The Doors: Unhinged and also an event to promote Record Store Day.Mike Mills of R.E.M.Autograph Signing on April 19, 2014Scarborough, MaineThis was an autograph signing to promote Record Store Day.SeetherAutograph Signing on May 9, 2014Bangor, MaineAgainst Me!Autograph Signing on July 27, 2014Scarborough, MaineThe String Cheese IncidentLive Performance on November 4, 2014Scarborough, MaineGrace PotterAutograph Signing on August 19, 2015Scarborough, MaineWilcoLive Performance on January 27, 2016Scarborough, MaineGraham NashLive Performance on April 16, 2016Scarborough, MaineThis was a concert to promote Record Store Day.Gov't MuleLive Performance on August 20, 2016Scarborough, MaineAll Time LowAutograph Signing on September 3, 2016Bangor, MaineBull Moose released a limited run free poster for people who attended this event.FozzyAutograph Signing on April 7, 2018Portland, Maine
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