Schoolkids Records, which has operated at 405-C West Franklin Street for nearly 50 years, will close its downtown Chapel Hill location at the end of 2024, according to owner Stephen Judge. The Raleigh location and in-house label will remain open. “After many decades of serving the community, this extremely difficult decision was not taken lightly,” Judge said in a post on GoFundMe. “It was and remains one of the most difficult decisions of my life.” Judge set up the GoFundMe to assist in the transition and to assist with covering costs for the Raleigh store, which is located at 2237 Avent Ferry Road, near the campus of North Carolina State University. Judge cited several factors in his decision to close the Chapel Hill location, including the COVID pandemic, inflation, and a serious illness in his family. “This news jolted me and became a quick reminder of how fragile life can be,” he said. “It came at a time when I was at a crossroads and trying to make the ‘right’ decisions and i...