AU | What Is The Best Thing About Running A Record Store In 2025? Local record store owners from all across the country weigh in. It’s a funny time to be a record store owner in Australia right now, but that hasn’t stopped many local stores from thriving and being pillars of their artistic communities. Record store owners all across Australia recently opened up to The Music about the challenges of slinging wax for a living. …Store owners across all states, in particular, cited the rapidly rising cost of new vinyl as an issue for local distributors, as well as the effect that the spiralling cost-of-living crisis has had on patrons’ ability to purchase records consistently. Maintaining a financially viable business model in today’s challenging economic environment is far from easy.
Eau Claire, WI | It’s Not a Trend, It’s a Revival: Physical Media Purveyors Talk Growing Local Scene. In the digital era, many are seeking “real world” experiences and tangible moments—including through physical media. In an era seemingly dominated by streaming and social media, the resurgence in popularity of physical books, vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and even cassette tapes may be surprising to some. Bolstered by digital natives or those who experienced the transition to digital everything while growing up, the return to physical media isn’t just a flash-in-the-pan trend: it’s a genuine revival. …“I know it sounds pretentious but I think there’s this world of vinyl outside of the normal and the ordinary, things you wouldn’t see at a Target,” he said. “I started this place to try to get people away from the norm, you know? I want people to get into something they’ve never heard before—there’s so much out there.”
Bridgeport, WV | Beloved Bridgeport record store to move locations: Roundabout Records in Bridgeport is picking up the needle as it moves to a new location, and it’s celebrating the change with a special deal. After Market on Main closed its doors at 103 W Main Street back in February, the Bridgeport Conference and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Connect-Bridgeport became the primary tenants of the building and wished to also occupy the current space that Roundabout Records sits. However, after speaking with city officials, Bridgeport CVB and Connect-Bridgeport, the group came to the resolution to move Roundabout right next door. This Saturday, Roundabout Records will officially move to its new location at 103 East Main Street in Bridgeport on the third floor of the Harrison County WIC office building. The new location comes with perks like being ADA accessible and gives more opportunities for visibility from the public.
Bovey, MN | KEBS Records ‘shouldn’t be working’—but it is. KEBS Records very well could be the world’s smallest record store. It’s in Bovey and all of 80 square feet. The space used to be Tim Edwards’ office. “My daughter and I were talking one night, and I said, ‘We could put a little record store in that space and see if anybody cares.’ So we did,” Edwards said. “And people came, and they keep coming.” Nine years later, they’re still coming. Edwards says they get shoppers from the five-state area and as far away as Chicago. “At first, I was like, really? Who would’ve thought this would have worked anyway?” he said. “This is literally an 80-square-foot record store in a town of 600 people. This shouldn’t be working.” The prices also support the shouldn’t-be-working theory. Nearly every record is $5, even if they could 10x their profit online. “I don’t want to sell it on eBay. I want to talk to people…”
San Marcos, TX | San Marcos business thrives with summer season preparations: A large portion of the San Marcos population is composed of Texas State University students, many of which leave town for the summer, which can be difficult for local businesses. A couple of local business owners explained what the impacts of the summer season and how they prepare. Sundance Records, one of San Marcos’ long-running vinyl shops, offers a wide range of items, including used and new vinyl, posters, t-shirts and other music memorabilia. The vinyl shop sees a peak of student consumers during the fall and spring semesters, with summer sales remaining steady by locals and out-of-town visitors. Kevin Kotara, Sundance Records owner, said although they experience a mix of customers throughout the year, TXST students make up a bigger percentage in their consumer population. “My estimate is probably about 60% of our sales probably go to students, and it’s probably around 40%, maybe 30%, somewhere [around that number] that is just other people,” Kotara said.
Melbourne, AU | Inside Bar Selecta, the 10-Seat Listening Bar Where Sake Meets Soul: Hawthorn’s newest bar pairs rare records with refined cocktails and a sake list worth exploring, crafted by some of Melbourne’s most respected names in hospitality. Melbourne’s Bar Selecta doesn’t shout, it hums. Located on Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, this 10-seat listening bar is the work of six hospitality veterans: Joey Tai (ex–Flower Drum), Masaki Hisaike (sake sommelier), Kelvin Low (The Elysian), Adam Ong (Golden Monkey), and Michael and Eleena Tan (Brand Works). The concept pays homage to Japan’s intimate vinyl bars, where the music takes centre stage. Expect 1950s jazz records, obscure Japanese funk and throwbacks from Lana Del Rey to De La Soul, played through vintage JBLs in a space framed by red onyx, orange glass bricks and mid-century modern minimalism. Behind the red onyx marble bar, drinks riff off the vinyl energy.
Toronto, CA | New vinyl bar and restaurant opens on Toronto’s King West: A trendy Toronto restaurant that shut down earlier this year has officially been replaced by a funky new vinyl bar. It’s hard to believe we’re already over halfway through 2025, and, for fans of the now-shuttered, hyped-up King West seafood restaurant, Pink Sky, that means it’s also been seven months since the restaurant closed its doors permanently. …Enter Vinny, the new concept that’s officially taken over the space left behind by Pink Sky as of Friday, July 4. In just seven months, the space has been transformed into a sultry, comfortable restaurant and vinyl bar, tapping into Toronto’s increasing interest in more intimate, less showy spaces—even on King West. Touted, on Instagram at least, as the place where your night “starts and ends,” Vinny doubles as a full-service restaurant and a club (of sorts), where local DJs will be spinning vinyl tracks into the wee hours.
Washington, DC | 5 Vinyl Bars Around DC Spinning Groovy Records: These hangouts take their record collections as seriously as their drink menus. Washington’s latest bar trend? Vinyl vibes. A recent crop of music-centric spots draw inspiration from Japanese kissa—cafes known for their vintage records—while others simply use their eclectic LP collections and regular DJs to set the mood. Cana: This buzzy little Brazilian bar in Adams Morgan was born during co-owner Radovan Jankovic’s stay in Rio de Janeiro with his Brazilian girlfriend during the early Covid lockdowns. He brought back a passion for the caipirinha—the country’s national drink, combining cachaça, lime, and sugar—but also more than a thousand vintage records. Now regular DJs play Brazilian funk, soul, samba, and other music focused on the 1960s through early ’80s, as bartenders shake strawberry and passionfruit caipirinhas made with real sugar cane. Just added: bossa nova brunch.
Seaside, CA | Recycled Records: Vinyl Night at Other Brother Beer: Friday, July 18, 2025–6:00pm. The Lighthouse District’s own Recycled Records is hosting a Vinyl Night at Other Brother Beer Co. on Friday, July 18, 6pm-9pm. Shop owners Kellen and Bree are stoked to be collaborating once again with this fantastic Seaside brewery. Add some records to your collection, hang with friends, enjoy some great beer, and listen to vinyl spinning all night.
Aurora, IL | Roundhouse Record Show: Great albums, great drinks, great location! Saturday, July 19th our dealers are bringing albums on vinyl, CD and even cassettes in a wide range of genres. Join Midwest Music Marketplace at the Two Brothers Roundhouse for drinks, food and music collectibles. Your favorite record dealers with LP’s & 45’s. Rare performances on CD & DVD. Bargain vinyl and used CD’s too. Start your spring with new albums. Find your next favorite or complete your collection!
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