Lexington, KY | Lexington’s CD Central to close after 30 years in business: A longtime staple of Lexington’s music scene is preparing to close its doors. CD Central, the beloved independent record store on South Limestone, announced in a Facebook post that it will shut down next month after 30 years in business. The store’s owner says the decision to sell was personal, not financial, and a new team plans to open a different business at the same location. As the store winds down operations, CD Central will no longer accept trade-ins or purchase used CDs or vinyl. Customers are encouraged to redeem gift cards as soon as possible and pick up any special orders currently on hold. The store also asks that local bands with consigned music reach out to arrange pickup or payments before the final closing date.
Wilmington, NC | Gravity Records Keeps On Spinning: Matt Keen, owner of Gravity Records in Wilmington, said music has been a part of his life since long before he can remember. Keen began playing the violin at the age of 3 and eventually became proficient on other string instruments. Inspired by his grandfather, a small business owner, Keen turned down a music scholarship to the UNC School of the Arts to attend business school at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. While taking classes, he worked at Manifest Discs & Tapes, the go-to place for music, movies and more in the late 1990s. Keen eventually became the manager of Manifest, and when the owner decided to close up shop, Keen saw the opportunity to go into business for himself. “I was 24 years old, taking an extended break from college and not sure what I wanted to do with my life. But I knew I didn’t want to stop working at a record store,” he said.
Vernon, BC | Vernon vinyl shop moving into downtown core: After five years in its previous location, the vinyl shop Collectors Direct has moved downtown. Record store Owner Edward Martins said the Vernon shop held its soft launch on Monday at its 30 Avenue location next to the Med Restaurant. “We wanted to get downtown so we would get more people to see our place, and we could share our products with more people,” said Martins. The shop sells everything from records, to CDs, posters, and collectible pieces. Collectors Direct’s previous Vernon location was on 53 Ave which they have had since 2020, Martins told Castanet the move to downtown is expected to help increase the store’s foot traffic. “Downtown is very vibrant, and we enjoy the atmosphere here,” said Martins.
Torrington, CT | Revolution Records: where the past plays on. On the corner of Willow and Franklin Streets in Torrington, Revolution Records doesn’t announce itself with fanfare. But inside, you’ll find a library of music from a bygone era. …“When I opened this store, I wanted it to feel like my bedroom when I was a teenager,” said John Dibella, who founded the shop six years ago before handing it over to his lifelong friend, Ted Pirro. Pirro, a music lover with shoulder-length silver hair, has spent most of his life working in record stores. More than a retail shop, Revolution Records has become something of a community center. Pirro calls his most devoted customers “hall of famers”—regulars who arrive without fail every week and chat for hours.
Hingham, MA | Record shop opening in downtown Hingham for vinyl enthusiasts and other music lovers: Music lovers of all ages will be excited to hear that a Best Brother Records shop is opening in downtown Hingham in August, featuring new and used vinyl, album premieres, and other special events in a comfortable and welcoming space that’s expected to attract enthusiasts from near and far. Co-owners Bryan Hamill and Alexis Voss, both Hingham residents, are enthusiastic about expanding BBR operations to include a brick and mortar shop offering “deeply curated,” multi-genre collections in the heart of Hingham Square at 51 South St., #104. “I’ve been involved in the Boston music community for the last 30 years,” Hamill—who started out in radio as a DJ in Boston and Phoenix—told the Hingham Anchor.
Naperville, IL | Comics, vinyl and cookies: A curated market for collectors comes to Naperville Aug. 10: On Sunday, Aug. 10, Noon Whistle Brewing in Naperville transforms into a collector’s adventure with the first Comics, Cards & Vinyl Market. Organized by the Streetz Artz Alliance, the event runs from noon to 5 p.m. at the brewery, 1748 W. Jefferson Ave. It brings together a curated mix of comic book vendors, vinyl record dealers, trading card specialist, and artists inspired by all things geek and pop culture. “This is a themed market, but it’s still intimate and heavily curated,” said event organizer John Streetz of Streetz Artz Alliance. “We’ve built the lineup around comics, vinyl, and collectibles — but even the vendors who step a little outside the theme are bringing incredible additions, like gourmet cookies and small-batch coffee. It’s going to be a blast.”
Indianapolis, IN | Indy CD & Vinyl’s pop-up shop brings vinyl magic to state fair: Indy CD & Vinyl has set up a pop-up record store at the Art of Music Experience in the Harvest Pavilion, part of the State Fair, showcasing the enduring appeal of vinyl records. The Art of Music Experience, a collaboration between friends in the music industry, features album artwork and physical media, emphasizing the lasting presence of vinyl records. “Vinyl never went away, and we’re living proof,” Andy Skinner, owner of Indy CD & Vinyl, said. The exhibit is designed to replicate the experience of visiting a real record store, complete with racks and artwork brought in by Indy CD & Vinyl. Andy Skinner’s wife, Annie, contributed to the user experience design of the exhibit, ensuring visitors feel like they are stepping into a legitimate record store.
New Tiny Vinyl records are now available to play on your standard turntable… they literally fit in your pocket! We’ve had traditional 12″ vinyl LPs and 7″ singles, convenient compact discs, large laser discs, and MP3s and streaming channels, but are we ready to listen to music on tiny, tiny vinyl? Just this week, a mini but mighty new physical music format has arrived, aptly called Tiny Vinyl. Measuring at just four inches in size, Tiny Vinyl is a playable vinyl record that can hold four minutes of audio per side. According to a press release, the vinyl disc aims to bridge the gap between modern and traditional… to offer a new collectible for artists to share with fans that easily fits in your pocket. While it might be a gimmick that’ll only last a year or two, tons of contemporary artists have hopped onto the Tiny Vinyl bandwagon…
Portland, OR | Vinyl Meets Pho at a New Bar from the Memoire Team: At After Ours, morning banh mi avocado toast will precede tamarind–fish sauce margaritas. In 2021, Momofuku alumnus Gary Ly and his partner Lung Ly opened 93 ’Til in Houston, Texas, a bar and restaurant named for the Souls of Mischief song “93 ’Til Infinity.” “Take that song as a foundation for the music the restaurant plays,” wrote Timothy Malcolm for Houstonia, soon after the restaurant opened. “You’ll hear hip-hop and rap, funk, soul, worldbeat, classic rock, African jazz, and much more, sometimes in one dinner service.” Four years later, bartenders at 93 ’Til play both drink maker and dj, shaking espresso martinis and pouring glugs of Hibiki Harmony while pulling vinyl from the the tightly packed shelves between orders.
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