Echo Park, CA | Latino record store in Echo Park raising funds to stay open: Sick City Records, a Latino-owned and operated record store in operation since 2006, is raising funds to prevent shutting down in Echo Park due to an increase in rent. The record store specializes in rock, punk and alternative music and features performances by local bands and sells their merch. They also have a large selection of vintage rock tees. It is pet-friendly and also has a full-service barber shop. “2025 has been tough, and we need your support to keep our doors open. Every donation helps us continue fostering creativity and community,” a post on their Instagram page says.
Hamilton, ON | Popular Hamilton record store opens second location in Dundas: One of Hamilton’s most popular record stores has opened a second location in Downtown Dundas. Revolution Records officially opened at the end of September at 32 King Street East in Dundas, taking over the storefront previously occupied by Records on Wheels, another music store that closed its doors in 2024 after 45 years in business. This new shop builds on the success of the original Revolution Records storefront located at 166 Ottawa Street North in the Crown Point neighbourhood, which remains open in tandem with the Dundas store. Revolution Records is a prime destination for new and used vinyl finds in all major genres like rock, pop, country, metal, soundtracks, jazz, and much more, sporting an enticing mix of the latest with harder to find gems.
Edmonds, WA | This Edmonds record shop offers a creative space for music lovers: Musicology Co. is full of musical treasures and art. While digital streaming dominates today’s music landscape, a new record store in Edmonds, WA, is proving that the magic of vinyl is alive and well. This women-owned music boutique—one of the few in Washington state—offers a diverse selection that brings the tactile joy of record collecting to the heart of the community. For owner Rachel Gardner, music has always been a part of life itself. Born in a music store and raised traveling with musician parents, she grew up understanding what artists need to thrive. At Musicology Co. in Edmonds, she’s created exactly that: a space where musicians can perform, share their work, and continue their creative journey. “I’ve always been a huge collector of music. The idea of bringing people together in a place where they can physically experience the music and listen to it made sense.”
York, UK | Record Plant York has opened its doors at 26 Gillygate: A new record shop, which pays homage to the contributions that York has made to 70/80s music, has opened its doors in York city centre. Record Plant, a new shop selling second-hand music including records, cassettes, CDs, and musical memorabilia, opened its doors at 26 Gillygate last Saturday (November 8). Owned by Choque Hosein and his business partners, the shop is far from his first foray into the music industry with his band – Black Star Liner—receiving a nomination for the 1999 Mercury Music Prize. After years of working in music and production, Choque set up a music venue of his own—The Old Woollen—in Farsley, Leeds, with the first Record Plant opened at the back of the venue in 2023. Since then, it’s gone from strength to strength and become a key part of the music community—something that the shop hopes to emulate in York.
Rockford, IL | Rockford record stores put Cheap Trick on full display as new album comes out: Cheap Trick is well-known around the world, and the iconic band got its start in Rockford. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers released their 21st album, ‘All Washed Up,’ and record stores around Rockford are jumping in to make sure fans have a great experience picking up the new record. Culture Shock Clothing and Records, along with Toad Hall Books and Records, leaned into the album release, offering things like signed copies and old newspapers from when the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rick Nielsen is still a staple around town, with his fingerprints all over the Hard Rock Casino Rockford, and to have his sound endure after almost 50 years is special. “Obviously, he’s very well known around town with the checkered guitar, even represented on the front cover of the album,” said Skyler Davis, owner of Culture Shock. “But yeah, 21 albums in and still rocking like that is an amazing feat.”
Vicksburg, MS | A Heart Full of Music: Miss Michel retires after a lifetime at the record shop: Timmie Fedell will celebrate her birthday while also retiring—marking the end of an era for Michel’s Record Shop. Timmie Fedell, known to most as Miss Michel, may be small in stature, but her impact on downtown Vicksburg is anything but. Even after her husband died more than 20 years ago, Fedell continued to keep the music alive, welcoming patrons from all over the world into Michel’s Record Shop. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, she will celebrate her birthday while also retiring at the shop—marking the end of an era for Michel’s Record Shop. But while this chapter of Fedell’s life is coming to a close, she said she will forever cherish the many memories made over the years. “Willie Dixon used to come in quite often, about once or twice a year. And he would always want me to have teenagers or whoever to sit and play with him so he could help, you know, teach them some (guitar) licks,” she said.
Seattle, WA | Miniature masterpiece captures the soul of Easy Street Records at West Seattle Art Walk: On Thursday, November 13th, Easy Street Records played host to a special event during the West Seattle Art Walk, debuting the short film “Easy, Weirdo” and featuring a live conversation celebrating a remarkable piece of Seattle musical history: a meticulously crafted miniature of the iconic record store. The art piece, titled “The Corner of California & Alaska,” was created by artist Rosetta Greek to benefit the non-profit “As Many Weirdos As Possible” project, which seeks to capture portraits and stories of those making and supporting Pacific Northwest music between 1985 and 1995. The conversation, hosted by photographer Lance Mercer, featured Greek and Easy Street owner Matt Vaughan, offering insights into the creative process, the store’s history, and the profound connection the location holds for the community
Edmonton, AL | Review: Vinyl Cafe, The Musical a real winner for the Citadel: By the end of the opening number, At the Vinyl Cafe, which gave the audience its first peek through the front door of the storied record shop, we were immersed in the new world. Adaptations are turkey. I mean, tricky. Even solid source material, in this case the heft and humour of Stuart McLean’s The Vinyl Cafe, doesn’t guarantee creators of a new form will be gobbling up accolades. Settling into the plush, red seats of the Citadel main stage on opening night, I wondered if I would be able to get the slow, soothing drawl of the legendary radio raconteur out of my head long enough to let the new musical—a world premiere—into my heart. But by the end of the opening number, At the Vinyl Cafe, which gave the audience its first peek through the front door of the storied record shop, I was immersed in the new world.
Blu-ray isn’t dead—it’s the new vinyl: The sentiment that physical media are dead is pretty common these days, and for some formats like VHS, that’s probably true. However, both vinyl and even tape cassettes have undergone a revival among old and new enthusiasts. So never say never. It occurred to me recently, that Blu-ray, especially UHD Blu-ray, has pretty much taken on the same role as vinyl—but for movies. The only real difference is that it didn’t “die” in between. This is the first time since VHS went mainstream in the 1980s that some (if not most) households don’t have any sort of physical video collection. I suspect that if not for the inclusion of Blu-ray drives in the PlayStation 4, 5 and last two Xbox console generations, most people wouldn’t even have any way to play DVDs, Blu-rays, or UHD Blu-rays. It’s sad (to me), but physical media isn’t the default for watching movies and series at home.
Follow The Vinyl District on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE, Threads HERE, Bluesky HERE, and X/Twitter HERE.
