CA | A New Generation of Vinyl Buyers Has Arrived—So Why Are We Still Targeting Gen X? Honeymoon Suite are the latest in a long line of Record Store Day Canada ambassadors to court an older demographic. I got my record player in the summer of 2008. I can pinpoint the date almost exactly, because my first record was Wolf Parade’s then-new At Mount Zoomer, which came out in June of that year. …In the 18 years since then, there have been various reports that the bubble might be about to burst. As early as 2010, there have been doom-y accounts of vinyl sales slowing down, with inevitable comparisons to the collapse of the sports card trend in the mid-’90s. In 2024, reports suggested that vinyl sales had collapsed by a third—but it turned out that the data firm Luminate had simply changed its methodology, and that sales were actually up.
Austin, IL | New Sound Cafe In Austin Channels The Legacy Of Iconic 1970s Gospel Record Store: The coffee shop opened in the same building that housed New Sound Gospel Records and Tapes until it closed over 20 years ago—and it includes many nods to the gospel store’s heyday. Customers walking into New Sound Cafe in Austin take a step back in time, where the roast of the day is paired with the sounds of Mahalia Jackson, The Soul Stirrers, James Cleveland and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. This coffee shop at 5958 W. Lake St. opened in November and is steeped in decades of gospel history—it resides in a building that was home to New Sound Gospel Records and Tapes, which closed over 20 years ago. Classic records adorn the walls of its main floor while a decades-old organ and original storefront sign can be found upstairs.
Hitchin, UK | Opening date confirmed for JP’s Records in Hitchin: The opening date for a much-anticipated new record shop in Hitchin has been confirmed. JP’s Records is opening in the basement of Ronan’s Coffee at 50a Walsworth Road, with work taking place for the last few weeks to get the store ready. Owner Jack Perry has confirmed an opening date of Saturday, February 7, and he is excited to welcome customers for the first time. “It’s been very fun getting the shop ready – except for building flat pack parts—and I’m super excited to open on February 7,” he said. “I can’t wait to show everyone what I’ve been working on.” JP’s Records will be open from 10am to 4pm every Wednesday to Saturday, with Jack previously telling the Comet he hopes the store is somewhere people can “lose themselves in music.”
Cottonwood, AZ | Queen B Vinyl Café to Host Sold-Out Puscifer Album Listening Parties Feb. 5-8 In Cottonwood: Queen B Vinyl Café will celebrate the release of Normal Isn’t, the new album from Puscifer, the band led by co-owner and Grammy Award-winning musician Maynard James Keenan. On Feb. 5 at 11 p.m., the café is hosting a sold-out advance listening party and early screening of Puscifer’s concert film, Normal Isn’t: Puscifer Live at the Pacific Stock Exchange, in advance of its Feb. 6 release. It will be the first place across the nation to hear the new album. The shop will open to the general public for a midnight sale of the album, and the café side will stay open late with a limited menu for those who weren’t able to get a ticket and want to hang out until midnight.
Northfield, MN | Verbena Vinyl Spins Creativity with “Blind Date with a Record” Promotion: As Valentine’s Day approaches, one Northfield small business is turning tradition on its head—inviting customers to skip the chocolates and flowers and instead fall in love with something a little more unexpected: a mystery album. Verbena Vinyl Record Store, owned by longtime local music champion Vicki Scott, has launched “Blind Date with a Record,” a playful promotion designed to help listeners break out of their musical routines—and help the shop expand its reach during the busy winter retail season. Inspired by the popular “blind date with a book” concept, Scott’s version wraps hand‑selected vinyl in brown paper, embellishes it with stickers and artwork, and includes a few clues about genre and mood. The album itself, though, remains a surprise until customers take it home and unwrap their “date.”
Ypsilanti, MI | Roots: A2vintage relocates to Depot Town, introduces Student Sunday sale. A2vintage, a local vintage clothing and record store, has moved from Michigan Avenue to Depot Town at 21 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti. The store front in Depot Town will be a2vintage’s fifth location, store owner Kelly Callison said. “We started the shop in 2011. We were right next door to Puffer Reds on Michigan Avenue. We rented a small, maybe 800-square-foot, space from Puffer Reds, and we started with records, upcycled and repurposed furniture and clothing, anything that looked fun, and quirky and cool,” Callison said. Callison reported that the business was doing well for a long time, but they saw a shift in what people wanted, so they made a switch from carrying mostly records to primarily clothing.
Bonita Springs, FL | Coffee, music and community collide at Disco Bean Coffee Company: Proudly rooted in Bonita Springs, Florida, Disco Bean isn’t just a café—it’s a vibe, a movement, and a destination for creativity, flavor, and community. Like the nooks and crannies of an English muffin, the Gulf Coast is filled with hidden gems. “Good Morning Gulfcoast’s” Jason Drew was in Bonita Springs ‘Gulfcoasting’ Friday morning to spotlight a new local business, Disco Bean Coffee Company. Proudly rooted in Bonita Springs, Florida, Disco Bean isn’t just a café—it’s a vibe, a movement, and a destination for creativity, flavor, and community. Disco Bean Coffee Company is where coffee, music, and community collide. They serve quality coffee in a space built for connection, creativity, and good energy. Come for the coffee, stay for the vibes—and leave inspired.
Livermore, CA | Valentine’s Vinyl Night: Lovers & Friends at Darcie Kent Estate Winery. Dinner plans done? Keep the night going. Visit us after your Valentine’s dinner, where the lights are low, the wine is flowing, and the vibe turns sultry. Free to attend. Join us for a romantic Vinyl Night in Bing’s Barn from 6–9 PM, with slow jams, soulful love songs, and timeless romantic favorites spinning on vinyl. Halal Bites of Chicago Food Truck will be on site with crave-worthy comfort food to pair with the music and wine. …We’ll be spinning vinyl all evening and closing with People’s Choice Hour—bring a favorite love record or choose one from our collection to help end the night on a perfectly romantic note.
Blue Note Records Announces 2026 Classic Vinyl Reissue Titles: Blue Note Records has announced the next run of titles in the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, which presents all-analog 180g vinyl reissues that are mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes and manufactured at Optimal. Curated by Cem Kurosman, the series continues its exploration of the extensive Blue Note catalog with titles that span the many eras and styles of the iconic label’s history. The newly announced titles begin with two hard-swinging 1960s classics—Free For All by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and Our Thing by Joe Henderson—released on Jan. 23 and available on The Blue Note Store.
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