Manchester, UK | Altrincham record store owner says shop ‘isn’t dead, only sleeping’ as update given on closure: The beloved independent vinyl shop on Regent Road has closed its doors. The owner of a Greater Manchester record store has confirmed its closure, prompting a huge outpouring of sadness. One of Altrincham’s best-loved independent businesses, Tasty Records is closing its doors after eight years of trading. Ben Molesworth, owner of the store Regent Road in the town centre, confirmed the news via social media, describing the decision as ‘complicated.’ In the update, he said the store “deserves more than [he] can give it.”
Auckland, NZ | ‘Unpleasant, perfect storm’: Akl record store to close after tough trading years. A well-established Auckland record store is closing down, with its managing director saying a confluence of factors had created an “unpleasant, perfect storm” for the business. Matthew Davis and co-director Ben Howe opened their brick-and-mortar shop Flying Out on Pitt St in 2015, building off the rapid success of an online music store they launched 18 months earlier. But the popular haunt for music-lovers and collectors had reached its end, Davis announced this morning, telling customers it was “the hardest thing we’ve ever had to write.”
Yamaguchi Prefecture, JP | Japanese Shop Lists 80,000 Vinyl Records for 8 Million JPY, “Pick-Up Only” Sparks Wild Debate: “Who Can Even Move That?!” A legendary listing has popped up on a Japanese auction site, sending shockwaves through the collecting community. Nandemoya, a second-hand shop in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is selling a mind-boggling collection of 80,000 vinyl records and CDs as a single lot for a cool 8 million JPY (approximately $51,000 USD). The catch? It’s “pick-up only.” This insane deal immediately sent ripples across Japanese X (formerly Twitter). The buzz started when a user posted about the 8 million JPY listing, highlighting that the entire shop’s inventory—nearly 80,000 vinyl records, CDs, and other collectibles—was up for grabs in one go, but only for self-pickup.
Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis salon mixes rock and roll with haircuts: Inside HiFi Hair and Records. HiFi Hair and Records sits on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, marked by a leopard print awning and a vibe that’s all about community through music. “I tried to model it after a barbershop,” said Jonny Clifford, owner of the salon. Clifford opened the shop in 2011, inspired by his father who introduced him to music and was battling terminal cancer at the time. The salon brings together the hum of blow dryers and the sounds of rock and roll, with Clifford saying, “Music is the uniter. Most everyone who is alive today grew up on rock and roll.” He added a record store the following year, letting customers browse new and used vinyl and CDs while waiting for their appointment. “I jokingly refer to it as the coolest waiting room in the city…”
Sheffield, UK | Sheffield’s latest record shop, with cinema, brings back unique retro memories to much-loved shopping street: How record shop brings back memories of vinyl golden age. It’s the latest boost for Chapel Walk—and it brings back great memories for Sheffield music fans. Record shop Memory Dance has opened its doors on the narrow pedestrianised alley which runs from Fargate to Norfolk Street, coming out close to the Crucible Theatre. And it will bring back special memories to legions of residents who miss some of the city’s great record shops that is has lost over the years. As well as its wide range of vinyl on offer, the new shop, run by professional archivist Alex Wilson, is decorated with poignant reminders of some of the city’s great music shops of the past.
Cleveland, OH | Harmony Hi-Fi, a Vinyl Listening Bar Opens in Ohio City: Inspired by Chicago’s listening-bar scene, Harmony Hi-Fi features a curated vinyl selection and a menu from chef Terrell Locklear. Harmony Hi-Fi, a vinyl listening bar, quietly opened its doors at the end of May. The project was announced back in March when partners Christine Somrak and Danny Chedid took over the former Kyuu-juu space on Fulton Road in Ohio City. Assisting them in their venture is Brian Gresham, who ran Take 5 Rhythm and Jazz in Downtown Cleveland. “I visited Parachute vinyl bar in Chicago and I just fell in love with the concept,” says Somrak. “It brought back my childhood, sitting around listening to vinyl records with my family. I always liked the tangible music that you can put in your hand.”
Arbutus, MD | This Arbutus firehouse draws music fans from across the globe: Arbutus Record and CD Show runs every third Sunday. An Arbutus firehouse draws music fans from as far away as Japan, England and Germany once a month for a vinyl and CD show that has been running since the early 1990s. The Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department hosts the gathering of music fans just about every third Sunday of each month. The show has built a Facebook following of more than 1,500 people. Janet Ruehl greets attendees as they browse tables of physical media: vinyl records, CDs and more. “I go around the room several times. Just welcoming people, welcoming customers,” Janet Ruehl said. Frank Ruehl took over the show with wife Janet in 2011 when he was retiring, putting in hours of work each month to keep the decades-long convention going.
Burlington, NJ | The Burlington Record Riot! Vinyl Records! Sun July 26th, Masons Hall, 2308 Mt Holly Rd. 10 AM-4 PM. The Burlington Record Riot returns! It’s a BIG vinyl record POP-UP sale at the Masons Lodge #32 F&AM, 2308 Mount Holly Rd! Over 10,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! 10 AM-4 PM. Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
Los Angeles, CA | SNDIGØ Records Launches Decentralized Label Blueprint to Disrupt Legacy Vinyl Supply Chains: SNDIGØ Records, a forward-thinking independent music label and media imprint, has officially unveiled a decentralized operational blueprint designed to disrupt traditional vinyl distribution networks. Founded by creative technology executive Skyler Siddens, the imprint successfully bypasses legacy supply chain bottlenecks by integrating a fully automated, print-on-demand manufacturing model that eliminates physical inventory risk and overproduction waste. The global music industry is facing severe friction in physical media distribution, marked by long delays at traditional vinyl pressing plants, rising raw material costs, and prohibitive upfront financial requirements. These barriers heavily penalize independent creators, forcing them to assume substantial financial debt long before a physical record ever reaches a consumer.
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