Artists, music fans and movie fans of all ages gathered at Hoodlums Music and Movies on Saturday night to celebrate the store’s first birthday at its new location in Tempe. Hoodlums co-owners and self-proclaimed music junkies Steve Wiley and Kristian Luce joined their patrons for a night of giveaways, food and fun.

Artist Mike Mass displayed his acrylic prints in the store as customers ate cake and drank wine for the Hoodlums birthday celebration. Mass, who has known Wiley for more than 10 years, described his work as pop art.

DJ Baby Nose held down the Hoodlums stage and played music for customers as they skimmed the aisles.

The Hoodlums crew has taken pride in providing a store that offers its loyal customers a wide choice of CDs, vinyl records, DVDs, music and movie posters, and more for more than 10 years.

The store originally opened in 1998 and resided in the basement of the Tempe campus Memorial Union until driving factors forced the Hoodlums gang to relocate.

Wiley attributed the change of scenery to a combination of the MU flood, fire and overall timing of the economic crash.

Wiley came up with the store’s concept after he lost his job as manager of Zia Records in Tempe.

“Opportunity knocked, and I felt like we could make it work,” he said.

Opportunity turned to gold when the music store opened its doors more than a decade ago and became a Tempe’s gem of the underground scene.

“We take advantage of our smallness,” Wiley said. “We don’t mess around with gimmicks. We just go with the best product and price.”

Hoodlums sells thousands of CDs, ranging from jazz to hip-hop to world music to classic rock. Classic movies line the shelves and art prints hang from the walls. The products found within Hoodlums are a result of 20 years of collection.

“We supply the stuff people want to buy,” Wiley said. “Our music fits the crowd that comes in. It’s really just trial and error.”

Longtime business partners and friends Wiley and Luce both share a passion for music and sharing it with others.

“I’m a groove merchant, I just need a groove” Wiley said. “I like jazz, rock and blues” he said, while Luce named instrumental, jazz and world music among his personal favorites.

Hoodlums has hosted many events for patrons since its opening years ago.

“We show a lot of music documentaries and showcase a lot of local bands,” Wiley said. “Each event is totally unique and brings in a different crowd.”

Wiley said there is no key to making the store work.

“We just make it up as we go,” he said.

Reach the reporter at kelsey.groetken@asu.edu.