Conversations with Ellen Rehak

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Rehak.

Hi Ellen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My partner, Jeff Ferguson, and I launched RUN OUT GROOVE RECORDS in 2022. Originally our Pandemic era daydream (“what do we want to be doing if/when this ends…”) our store is independently owned, and is truly a labor of love.

I come from a hospitality background (30+ years in restaurants!) and Jeff has spent equally long in marketing.
I have also worked as a photographer, freelance interior designer, and over a span of a decade, I restored three houses in North East / East LA.
We built our store together, from the ground up. (Jeff literally built the record cabinets and sales desk!) It is safe to say we utilize *all* of our areas of expertise and various talents, haha.

At Run Out Groove, we carry new and used vinyl, music books, and vintage T shirts. I also curate and carry music related art and vintage posters. We also have a small performance space, and offer free live music, and great vinyl DJs.

We are in the Magnolia Park neighborhood of Burbank, and are very active in the community. Jeff is coordinator of several neighborhood events – Food Truck Fridays in the summer, Magnolia Park Vintage Flea Markets in the winter months, as well as Holiday In The Park, our flagship annual holiday street fair.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Jeff and I have been exceptionally lucky in finding the right business for us, at the right time.

Coming out of the pandemic, we believed that people were yearning for shared experience, and a renewed feeling of community. Fortunately, it seems we were correct. We found a welcome and waiting community of music lovers in Magnolia Park, and beyond in the vinyl community of Los Angeles.

The obstacles we have faced so far have been the financial limitations of what we can afford to do.
We are self-financed, so big schemes and dreams – like sponsoring live music events off-site, and hosting farther-reaching art shows – are still in the “some day…” file. (For now!)

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would like to highlight my personal history in volunteer work, not to blow my own horn, but to encourage others to find any stripe of volunteer work that they feel passionate about, and to just jump in and do it!

Personally, I have always felt compelled to help protect and nurture vulnerable children.
In my early years in Los Angeles, I volunteered at Hollygrove, a group home for children ages 6-12. I established and ran a reading club for the kids, “Book Bugs”. I showed up twice a week, every week, for three years, and I am proud to say I have many lovely memories of connecting with kids over stories and shared time. It was hard work, often heartbreaking, and also deeply fulfilling.

Cut to many years later, in 2016 I learned of CASA LA, and I signed up. After the eight week training, I graduated and was paired with a 14 yr old youth with medical needs who was growing up in foster care. Becoming his CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and doing the work of being there for him in life has been one of the best things I have ever done.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://runoutgrooverecords.com
• Instagram: @runoutgrooverecords
• Facebook: @runoutgrooverecords
• Yelp: @runoutgrooverecords

Image Credits
All photos by me, Ellen Rehak