Avenue A's Key Food 1980s playlist, explained (sort of)

Interview by Stacie Joy

EVG photo on loan from Fotomuseum Winterthur 

Following our post yesterday about the 1980s-heavy playlist at Key Food on Avenue A (and the introduction on the EVG Key Food Playlist on Spotify), an anonymous (and highly placed) Key source agreed to talk, with one caveat:

"This is some proprietary information that is highly sensitive and could be commercially very damaging should it be disclosed…"

With that, right to the Q&A. 

Who is the Key '80s music lover who selects the deep-cut hits? 

It's genuinely a mystery. There are a few options with this service, but we decided not to mess with a good thing. 

Are you paying for a service for these amazing music selections? You mentioned they used to be on CDs, but now it's a system, correct? 

It's a satellite radio service — there's a satellite on our roof. We used to get a new CD sent to the store once a month.

The Paso Muzak Series 3000 Integrated Professional Amplifier T3130BGM 

Do you ever veto a song choice? 

We do not and cannot interfere with the song selection process — it is sacred. 

Aside from the December holiday season, are there ever non-1980s (or early) hits at The Key? 

Why mess with a good thing? 

Do you/does the '80s music lover have a selection of favorite Key hits? 

Here is a non-exhaustive list: 

• "Waiting for a Star to Fall" — Boy Meets Girl 

• "Call Me" — Blondie 

• "Hold On Loosely" — 38 Special 

• "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" — Cutting Crew

• "Surrender" — Cheap Trick 

• "Rock the Casbah" — The Clash 

• And any Dire Straits song 

When did the 1980s playlist start in Key history? Was it the actual 1980s, and nothing ever changed? 

We took over the store in 1993, and that's when it became a Key Food, so it had to be after that. 

Do you get feedback from customers and/or staffers about the music selection?

Aside from EV Grieve, not frequently. [Editor's note: AHHAHAHAHA.] 

Do you ever turn a song up really loud and dance down the produce aisle singing along? 

Only when no one is watching. The volume is connected to the intercom, so it would blast the intercom announcements if we did. 

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So the source of the playlist remains unclear ... but the 1980s hits continue, uninterrupted.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Don't Disturb This Groove: We made a 13-hour Key Food playlist on Spotify