Patchogue, NY | Record Cafe brings vinyl, guitars and speciality coffee to Patchogue: Patchogue has a new hangout for music lovers—and caffeine seekers. Record Cafe quietly opened this fall, offering a mix of specialty coffee, vinyl records and guitars under one roof. The storefront sits just behind Main Street along Terry Street and is designed as a community space for collectors and creatives. Inside, there are roughly 2,000 vinyl records for sale, plus used and new guitars to buy, browse or trade. Music spins throughout the day as customers sip espresso and flip through crates. The concept comes from owner Yofry Perez-Drebing, who moved to Long Island several years ago after running businesses in South America. “I have [vinyl from] a lot bands in different countries,” said Perez-Drebing.
Cardiff, UK | The unlikely love story that ended with a couple owning a Welsh record store: In the summer of 2025 two of Cardiff’s long-standing music shops faced closure after their owners chose to retire after decades. While D’Vinyl in Mackintosh Place closed its doors after 30 year The Record Shop, also in Roath in nearby Inverness Place, was bought by a new owner. Canadian-born Jason Garrow’s life led him to Cardiff where he took over the record store after meeting and falling in love with a Welsh woman. The 51-year-old met his now-wife, Jayne, 50 while they were both attending a festival in Las Vegas in 2014. …Jason said he has had a “warm welcome” since opening with the shop often busy with customers. …As well as looking through the thousands of vintage records you can also meet the couple’s 14-year-old dog Bella who often sleeps on the counter.
Nashville, TN | The Groove record shop in final days at East Nashville location, plans 2026 move: December 31 marks the final day for The Groove record store at its familiar Calvin Ave. location in East Nashville. The owners are now working out details on the store’s next location and plan to announce where they’ll move in 2026. While this isn’t a goodbye to a Nashville business, many are reflecting on the memories made on Calvin Ave. The Groove is a record store that leans into the unique. A wall displayed a poster of the 1987 film The Monster Squad while a Kylie Minogue album played in the room. “Oh, they got Charlie Brown!” said one customer, pointing to a soundtrack for It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. “…I know I may sound kind of dramatic, but I think this may be my favorite record shop in the world,” a customer smiled.
Somerville, MA | With Gen Z Using Vinyl As Décor, Somerville Record Shop Owner Weighs In: According to a survey by Vinyl Alliance, 37% of Gen Z vinyl buyers are using their records as a form of home decor. Wayne Rogers, owner of Stereo Jacks in Somerville, is skeptical that they’re not getting play-time. “I would put more stock in if I knew people who did that or knew customers who did that,” Rogers said. “I don’t know anyone who does that.” Other local record store owners told WBZ NewsRadio that they had, in-fact, seen younger customers use records just as decoration, but that in large part, the vinyl was also being played. Rogers said young people’s desire for vinyl has always been there, but that music companies have begun to put out physical records of modern artists like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter, and Gen-Z is buying those up.
Allentown, PA | Crowd gives Lehigh Valley’s new music-themed restaurant an early spin: A new music-themed restaurant has dropped the needle on its business, and even without a formal introduction drew a crowd on a Monday night. The Broken Record, whose decor and even food names follow a music theme, held a soft opening at its strip-center location at 6776 Hamilton Blvd. Without advertising, apparently, enough word had gotten out that perhaps 80 people at one time were being served at the dinner hour Monday. …Of course, an equal attraction to the food at The Broken Record is the music. Trainer also owns Wind Creek Event Center, the music venue at Wind Creek Bethlehem that for nearly 14 years has been the Lehigh Valley’s main destination for national music acts.
Bonita Springs, FL | Disco Bean brings coffee, vinyl, and retro vibes to Bonita Springs: If your morning coffee comes with a side of groovy beats and disco balls, you might be at Bonita Springs’ newest hotspot. Disco Bean is now open, blending specialty coffee with music culture in a space that feels more like a retro dance floor than a traditional café. From the moment customers walk in, it is clear this is not your average coffee shop. Funky furniture fills the space, coasters resemble vinyl records, vintage speakers line the walls, and a DJ table sits ready with stacks of records waiting to be spun. The disco-inspired concept comes from founder Patty Amandis, better known as DJ Pat Pat, who said music and coffee have always been part of her life. “I’ve been around coffee and music my whole life. My family and I owned a Cuban cafe in East Naples and sold Cuban coffee,” Amandis said.
Bromsgrove, UK | First Bromsgrove vinyl record and CD fair of the year to take place: The first Bromsgrove vinyl record and CD fair of the year takes place between 9am and 3pm this Sunday, January 11. The event at the Bromsgrove Hotel and Spa will boast a wide range of more than 20 traders across 50 tables, selling thousands of new and used vinyl records which cater for all budgets. Whether shoppers are looking for 90s Brit Pop, 80s pop classics, classic rock, punk, 00s collectables, reggae, hip-hop, dance, soul, rock ‘n’ roll or new works, there will be something for everyone. There is free on site car parking when registering inside the hotel and there is also a cafe and restaurant on site.
Fitzroy, AU | Fitzroy Bowls annual free record fair this Sunday gets rare US vinyl collection: The annual Fitzroy Bowls Record Fair hits Fitzroy Bowls Club this Sunday with free entry and a massive US vinyl collection. Melbourne record store owner Keith Glass is bringing records to the annual Fitzroy Bowls Record Fair that haven’t been seen much in Australia. Glass ran Missing Link and Archie & Jugheads locally and has spent the past couple of decades running Mobile Records in Mobile, Alabama, and recently moved back to Australia with a serious collection of original US pressings that rarely show up here. Sunday’s fair promises a bigger-than-usual trader lineup, with personal collections and newly imported records all priced to move on the day. Videos showing some of the vinyl on offer are already circulating, with more promised before Sunday.
Fiona Apple releases “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)” vinyl to support mothers affected by cash bail: The release continues Apple’s long legacy of advocacy. Fiona Apple is releasing a limited edition 12-inch vinyl version of her protest song, “Pretrial (Let Her Go Home)”. The song details the horrifying impacts of the broken cash bail system on women, a disproportionate number of whom are Black mothers. At least $7 from each unit sold will be donated to Let Her Go, an initiative founded by Apple to provide information on the anti-bail movement and support women affected by the cash bail system. The vinyl release can be bought on Fiona Apple’s website here. Apple has become a fierce advocate for women and girls affected by the cash bail system in recent years.
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