Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix record store closing after 13 years: ‘I’ve loved being around music heads.’ The Record Room is closing after 13 years in metro Phoenix. Store owner John Rose says he’s closing the first week in June and hopes to have a new location up and running by the second week in June, although he’s quick to add, “That may be wishful thinking.” That new location will be a bit of a commute, though, from the Record Room’s current location on Dunlap Avenue just east of Interstate 17 in Phoenix. “We’re gonna load it up and move it to Carlsbad, California, and keep going,” Rose says. That’s where he and his wife, Holly, have been living for the past three years, leaving the day-to-day operation of the Record Room to employees in Phoenix, with Rose dropping in when he could. “I can’t be there enough and I need to be there,” he says. “I mean, the business needs its owner’s shadow, as they say. So that was the main reason.”
Portland, OR | A bloody poster of The Cure and ‘a lot of weed’: Logic transforms St. Helens record shop for debut film. “Paradise Records” was inspired by a Central Oregon record shop. With help from a St. Helens, Oregon record shop, musician Logic’s debut film is making its premiere at the Tribeca film festival in June. Written, directed, and starring the Grammy-nominated artist, “Paradise Records,” follows Cooper, who is trying to save his record shop from foreclosure. “The bank won’t give him a loan, someone keeps offering to buy the property — and then the robbery. He’s not having a great day,” the film description reads on the Tribeca website. “Thankfully, he’s got his motley crew of entertaining employees and a lot of weed to help him figure out how to get himself out of this mess.” The film was shot inside Endlessound Records, which opened a few years ago at the 2C’s Vendor Mall in St. Helens before expanding into the current larger space.
Lisbon, PT | Lisbon label Príncipe opens new store and events space: Casa Príncipe encompasses a store, music studio, events space and archive. Lisbon-based label Príncipe has opened a new store and events space. Casa Príncipe encompasses a vinyl and merch shop, a label archive and a shared office with Filhó Único, a local atelier that hand-paints and designs Príncipe’s album art. A recording studio in the basement will be available for Príncipe artists to use. Label comanager André Ferreira told Resident Advisor the idea for Casa Príncipe had been brewing for years when representatives from Save the Night approached the team, asking if they had plans the Jägermeister initiative could help finance. Although the “ambitious” initial plan was reconfigured over time, the Príncipe team eventually settled on a first-floor storefront on Rua Coelho da Rocha. Ferreira told RA that Casa Príncipe plans to host record release parties, installations and other events.
Liverpool, UK | Rough Trade Liverpool: A Unique Community Space. When Rough Trade announced in 2024 that they would be opening a new store in Liverpool, it quickly caught a lot of attention both locally and nationally. Not only for being Rough Trade’s largest store in the UK, but also for opening at a time when music venues and record shops were struggling to survive. Perhaps the sheer audacity to undertake such a task is what made the whole concept so exciting at its launch However, Rough Trade Liverpool is not just a record shop; spread across two floors is a café, a bar with its own signature brew, a large record store, and a live music venue upstairs that can hold almost 400 people. This wide range of spaces means that the place is not just somewhere you can buy vinyl, but also a place where music is at the centre of everything.
Edinburgh, UK | 8 lost Edinburgh record shops fondly remembered by music lovers years later: There are many people in Edinburgh who may feel that a shopping trip just isn’t complete without a rummage through records. Edinburgh is home to some incredible records shops, its varied neighbourhoods have managed to maintain a decent level of options compared to other cities. However, there are still plenty of record stores that have been lost over the years. Those shops were much loved by record buyers, but their time had to come eventually—including some big chain stores. Scroll through our gallery to see eight of those lost record stores which are fondly remembered by music lovers in Edinburgh.
Scottsdale, AZ | Record shop sticking needle to Scottsdale: Among the thousands of used records – the things we had before CDs and digital music, for those born after 1990—at a Scottsdale Airpark shop is “My Fair Lady.” In very good condition, going for $5.99, it features the Rex Harrison talker “I’m an Ordinary Man,” about a chap “Who desires nothing more/Than just an ordinary chance to live exactly as he likes.” “Let a woman in your life,” he cautions, “And your serenity is through.” Substitute “city” for “woman”—and you have the plight of Nicholas Boor, who is suing Scottsdale for some $350,000. Boor’s varied shop also carries punk rockers The Ramones, who have a slammer that sums up this ordinary business man’s last few months: “I Wanna Be Sedated.” The owner of Vinyl Record Dude gradually built success in 17 years in Scottsdale, finally banking enough capital to make a big move to the bustling Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard corner.
Lauderhill, FL | Joe Jonas stops by Lauderhill record store to meet fans and promote new solo album: Fans lined up for hours outside a record store in Lauderhill to meet Joe Jonas, as he promoted his newly released album. Fans were in disbelief, shedding tears as they met the pop star and took photos at the We Got The Beats Record Store, Friday afternoon. “Happy tears, yes. These are good tears. I needed this,” said Ivanna Alvarez. “We’ve been waiting for Joe and waiting for this album forever. It was so amazing.” Hundreds of fans were up early and weathered the warm temperatures, as they waited in line for their chance to meet the pop star. “Since about 9 o’clock this morning,” said a fan. “We are staying cool; it’s very hot out.” Just hours before visiting the record store, Jonas released his new album, “Music for the People Who Believe in Love.” It’s the singer’s first solo album release since “Fastlife” in 2011. His fans were left in disbelief at the wait finally being over.
This Smashing Minimalist Turntable Borrows from Arguably the Most Iconic Guitar of All Time: MoFi Electronics knows a thing or two about quality hi-fi audio. So does legendary guitar maker Fender. Now, they’re working together. Introduced in the spring of 1954, the Fender Stratocaster is arguably the most iconic electric guitar design ever. It also boasts a signature look: a dark-around-the-edges and gold-in-the-center gradient colorway called Sunburst (also developed by Fender). …With a history dating back to 2014 and numerous accolades under its belt, MoFi Electronics obviously knows a thing or two about producing quality hi-fi audio equipment. That, however, pales in comparison to Fender’s nearly eight decades of dominance in the instrument space. Smash them together, and you’ll get something really special, as evidenced by this release. While this turntable blends the two brands’ signature styles—MoFi’s minimalism and Fender’s eye-catching colorways—this collab is a lot more than just looks.
Marquette, MI | Geoff and Jon’s Record Show offers thousands of records: Record-lovers found a variety of new and old sounds in Marquette on Sunday. The second Geoff and Jon’s Record Show of the year ended at Ore Dock Brewing Company. Ten thousand records driven in from the Detroit area lined the tables. Geoff Walker says it’s important for him to bring a large collection to fuel the music community. Walker says he grew up in Marquette with many record stores. He wants to keep that welcoming environment going today. “Bring that experience of being able to go somewhere where people are kind to you and are willing to listen to your questions and answer them generously and share with you history,” Walker said. There’s something for everybody at the record show. Walker says it has been the best show yet, and you can look forward to the vast selection in July’s show.
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