Author Archives: TVD HQ

New Bedford, MA | New Bedford welcomes Record High, a vinyl haven at Kilburn Mill: New Bedford’s newest record shop opened this month inside of Kilburn Mill, sparked by its owner’s passion for music and community Record High is located on the first floor of the mill building, fitting in perfectly amongst the vintage stores, toy shops, tattoo parlors, barbershops, photography studios and more that make Kilburn Mill just as eclectic as the mix of albums owner Todd Foy has placed in the bins. “I want to recreate the ‘record store of yesteryear’ with a modern twist,” Foy said. “You used to go to the record store with friends, get the newest drop from your favorite artist, and just hang out. I want this space to be welcoming to everyone and for people to disconnect from what lately feels like a very chaotic and fast-moving world.”

Atlanta, GA | CratesATL spins new life into South Downtown: Moods Music owner Darryl Harris expands his vinyl vision to historic Hotel Row. A new record store has opened in the heart of downtown Atlanta. CratesATL, on Mitchell Street’s Historic Hotel Row, opened its doors this past spring, adding a new rhythm to the area’s growing mix of local businesses. The shop joins a wave of revitalization efforts reshaping South Downtown, bringing music, culture, and community to one of the city’s most storied streets. CratesATL is a new offering from Darryl Harris, owner of Moods Music in Little Five Points. For 25 years, Moods has anchored Atlanta’s Black music scene. It’s a shop where crate diggers and casual listeners alike can lose hours flipping through stacks of neo-soul, hip-hop, gospel, hard bop, and acid jazz CDs and LPs. “I wanted to be a part of revitalizing downtown and everything that it’s going to become,” Harris says. And he means it.

Akron, OH | Akron’s Time Traveler Records’ future uncertain after 46 years in business: As one of Northeast Ohio’s longest-running independent record stores, Akron’s Time Traveler Records has been around for some time. Scott Shepherd said he wants to keep it that way. But he said the once-thriving business is now facing some challenges. “I sat here every day thinking, ‘man, I just can’t stop doing this,’” said Shepherd. Shepherd told News 5 he did not expect to turn his hobby into a business. Then, 46 years went by, and Shepherd said he found his calling to sell vintage vinyl records, a variety of new and used music, CDs and rare collectors’ items inside an Akron building off West Market Street. “When I first started a records store back in 1980, I started it to increase my own personal collection,” said Shepherd.

Port Jervis, NY | All Killer, No Filler: Inside Ironhead Records in Port Jervis, New York: Jesse Traynor opened Ironhead Records to bring underground music to a small city and build a community of “fans of the loud, the heavy, and the underground.” …These are wild times, but it’s impossible to argue that there’s never a terrible time to bring vinyl records to the masses. Even more, as Jesse says, “there’s no time like the present for fulfilling your dreams.” The economy might be crap, but records may just be the elixir for all ills. “Despite the ebb and flow of the economy, vinyl isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving. I think people have realized that they want something real and tactile. They want physical art, liner notes, and the knowledge that their purchase is forever.

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Chorley, UK | ‘End of an era’ as beloved Malcolm’s Musicland shop permanently closes after half a century: Much-loved owner Malcolm Allen tragically died earlier this year after a decade-long cancer battle. A beloved record store that has served music fans in Lancashire and beyond for more than half a century has ‘permanently closed.’ Known to many as ‘Mr Chorley’, Malcolm also gave service to town as chairman of Chorley Traders’ Alliance and as a parish councillor. Hundreds of people attended his funeral earlier this year including local MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The store’s Facebook profile picture was updated on Thursday night (December 11), showing a mocked-up image of the late Malcolm in the window of the shop, along with the words ‘permanently closed.’

Keynsham, UK | ‘Cult’ record shop to relocate: After a decade serving vinyl enthusiasts, cult record shop Longwell Records has decided to move to new premises. The Keynsham-based shop will relocate to Clifton Arcade, bringing its 10,000-strong collection, which includes some rare EPs and LPs. Owner Iain Aitchison, who was born in Southmead, spent nearly 30 years working in the NHS supporting people with substance abuse before opening the shop, which previously occupied a shipping container at Wapping Wharf. Speaking to Bristol24/7, Aitchison said the move from Temple Street in Keynsham represents a “bittersweet but necessary” evolution for the business. “We are so sad to leave Keynsham but after ten years, I felt it was time to be in an area with a better footfall,” said Aitchison.

Grand Rapids, MI | 5 hidden gem businesses in Grand Rapids to shop local for holiday gifts: Della Soul Records. Grand Rapids resident Della Marie Levi opened Della Soul Records in November 2023. Levi said there are two reasons for opening the vinyl record and cultural gift store at 1220 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.: to learn how to DJ on vinyl and the joy her late father felt while listening to records when she was a child. “It was so important learning the old school way because I grew up listening to DJs on vinyl,” she said. Customers walking into Della Soul Records can expect a comfortable space with dim lighting, equipped with plenty of seating, TVs and local artwork. The vinyl collection in stock consists of different genres Levi likes, including old-school hip-hop, new-school, R&B, jazz, adult urban contemporary…

Gen Z’s search for decorative collectibles is fueling vinyl sales: Vinyl records are popular again, but it’s not just audiophiles or nostalgic boomers fueling the resurgence. Gen Z is playing an outsized role in the revival of vinyl sales, which have grown on average by 18% annually in the past five years. About 60% of Gen Z say they buy records, according to Futuresource Consulting’s Audio Tech Lifestyles report. But Gen Z isn’t necessarily buying records for their unique sound. Around 40% of record buyers in the United States don’t own a turntable, noted James Duvall, principal analyst and head of entertainment at Futuresource Consulting. Fifty-six percent of Gen Z fans like vinyl for its aesthetic, while 37% use it as home decor, according to a Vinyl Alliance survey. It’s part of what Jared Watson, an assistant professor of marketing at New York University, calls “symbolic consumption.”

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Loudonville, OH | Operation Fandom/Blackbird Records opens new Loudonville location: May the merch be with you at the new Operation Fandom and Black Bird Records opening in Loudonville on Friday. Owner Josh Lehman had plans to expand his brand since earlier this year, looking at Mount Vernon and Bellville. But as fate would have it, a downtown Loudonville building, located at 149 West Main St., seemed to be the perfect fit. The Loudonville location is Lehman’s fourth expansion, joining the Wooster, Medina and Mansfield stores. It will be open Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but Lehman said those hours may be adjusted to fit the customers’ needs. Lehman landed on Loudonville because it was the right place at the right time for the right price; although the original plan was to open the new store in 2026.

St. Johns, UK | Royal Navy veteran opens new St. Johns record shop: A Navy veteran has opened a new record store in Worcester with thousands of records from his personal collection on sale. Simon Shothouse replaced the submarine he was based on in the Royal Navy with a storefront in St John’s that sells his life-long collection of records. The new shop, This is Vinyl & Vintage at 55 St Johns, features 4,000 old, new, rare and signed records. Mr Shothouse said he decided to start the business after 25 years in the Royal Navy because he thought his collection had become “excessive”. “I am a lifelong fan of music and a very wide range of music,” he said. “I never stick to one genre, and if I like something, I will listen to it no matter who it’s from. “I began to grow quite an excessive record collection, and after I left the Navy, I just had a rough evaluation of it and decided to open a little shop somewhere.”

Muncie, IN | Out with the new, in with the old: Old forms of media make an impact. “You pick your album, you pull it out, you brush it off, put it on, drop the needle. I mean, there’s a whole process to it,” said owner and operator of the Record Parlor of Muncie, Derek McNelly. Upon entering the Record Parlor of Muncie, customers see a variety of used vinyls, with a wide range of genres and artists. While the establishment does carry newer releases of music, the owner wanted to focus on used records. He said the promotion of newer artists’ music “kind of does its own thing” regarding mediums that can easily advertise their work, such as social media. “I feel it’s a part of my duty as a shop owner to promote and preserve old music,” Derek said. “As well [as] make sure it doesn’t get lost or forgotten.”

Tampa, FL | From Vinyl Fever to Daddy Kool: How record stores shaped my life. …Vinyl Fever quickly became a Friday payday tradition. I would go every week to look for the newest imports I had read about in the British music papers. And of course, being the curious person I am, I started conversations with everyone working in the store so I could run my mouth about music. One of the first people I got to know at Vinyl Fever was a guy named Steve, who eventually got so tired of me asking about new releases that his go-to answer became, “Mike… it’s out of print.” (lol) After years of shopping at Vinyl Fever, I started following the adventures of one of the employees, Pete Barless, who went on to open his own record store, Alternative Records, on Nebraska. I became a huge fan of the store and pretty much spent most of my paycheck there on Fridays. (You see a pattern developing?)

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Los Angeles, CA | L.A. record shop asks public for help staying open: ‘2025 has been one of the most difficult years.’ Los Angeles is home to some of the world’s best record shops, but a litany of factors is making them a dying art. …Sick City Records, located in Echo Park, sadly finds itself in that situation. According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, decreased foot traffic and increased rent are heavily impacting the shop, which sells vinyl, clothes and even offers haircuts from a singular barber chair located inside. “In January, when the Eaton and Palisades fires broke out, the shop was desolate for around a month,” L.A. Times writer Cerys Davies wrote in the publication’s De Los column. “Then, right as summer kicked off—usually a lucrative season for record-collecting tourists stopping by—ICE raids began happening all over the city.”

Accord, NY | Accord Record Store Freakout Spot Opens Holiday Pop-Up in Kingston: Following an unexpected shut down, the beloved shop pops up in the former Fletcher & Lu space on Broadway at least through January. “We wanted to open a record store where people who don’t buy records could go in and still have fun,” says Rob Davis of the idea behind Freakout Spot record store, explaining, “I got dragged to a lot of record stores by my dad when I was younger.” When he teamed up with his wife, Lila Allen, this past January to open a pop-up in the other half of the building that houses Bluebird wine shop in Accord, accessibility was top of mind. “Lila is the other half of the store. She curates really great books, items, clothes, oddities,” he says. “The shop looks and feels the way it does because of her.”

Inglewood, CA | Inglewood’s Recordland spins new life into old media for Calgarians: The vintage revival of vinyl calls for out with the new and in with the old. In a world dominated by technology and screens, Gen-Z—people born between 1997 and 2012—seem to crave nostalgia they never experienced through the “old ways,” embracing entertainment through records, books, and film cameras. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music continue to dominate the music industry. Still, vinyl has made a comeback in recent years, drawing people to the music scene in a more traditional way. Record stores are seeing a renewed interest away from instant playlists. Gen Z has sparked a vintage revival, seeking to disconnect from digital spaces and opting for more handheld options.

Poughkeepsie, NY | Darkside Records Relocates to Downtown Poughkeepsie: Poughkeepsie record store Darkside Records has moved from its location at 611 Dutchess Turnpike to its new building at 32 Cannon Street in downtown Poughkeepsie. The official reopening of the store on Nov. 21 invited the public to the new location to browse, shop and see how this beloved Poughkeepsie spot has taken their business to new heights. Darkside’s signature bright green walls and endless selection of records, CDs, cassettes, merchandise and much more have found a new home in this upgraded space, marking a new era for Darkside, and one that brings it closer to the community. Darkside Records, which originally opened in 2011 with its first-ever location on Poughkeepsie’s Main Street, moved to Dutchess Turnpike about five years later.

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Cornwall, ON | “Bud, this one’s for you.” Sister’s first record at brother’s music store. The walls of Bud’s Records pulsed with music, memory, and meaning as Wet for Days, the all-girl Ottawa mom punk band, performed their first-ever Cornwall show and celebrated the release of their debut self-titled vinyl album. For frontwoman Sarah Gott, the night was deeply personal. “This is the first full-length record we’ve ever put out,” said Gott. “It’s been four or five years in the making, and we finally did it. Pressing to vinyl has always been a dream, before I die, I wanted to do this.” The all-ages show at Bud’s Records marked the first time a full band performed at the shop, which holds special significance. It was founded in 2019 by Sarah’s brother Bud, who passed away suddenly in 2020. His bandmate Jason Lavoie and Jason’s partner Emily have kept the store thriving since.

Guelph, ON | Let’s shop in Guelph for the holidays at Royal Cat Records: This little record shop really rocks. Whether you just got your first turntable or you are a seasoned collector, Royal Cat Records has something for your collection. Are you looking for the perfect gift this year for someone special? We want to help. The Guelph Mercury Tribune is featuring local businesses and what they have to offer, just in time for the holidays. Downtown Guelph’s favourite record store has a lot of choices for the folks on your list who love vinyl, or music-themed gifts. You can check out Royal Cat Records at 21 Macdonell St. and if you can’t get free two-hour street parking, it’s right around the corner from the Market Parkade.

Glenside, PA | Vinyl Chickie Selling Late Philly Radio Legend’s Christmas Music: The Glenside record store obtained CDs that were among the personal collection of legendary WMMR radio host Pierre Robert. The late Philadelphia radio legend Pierre Robert won’t be forgotten this holiday season. Vinyl Chickie has begun selling some of Robert’s Christmas music with permission from his estate. Vinyl Chickie—the record store ranked as the best one in the Philadelphia region by “Philadelphia Magazine”—acquired some Christmas CDs that belonged in Robert’s personal collection. Owner Lisa Schaffer has decided to sell the CDs at $10. each (cash only) with all proceeds going to @northeastcommunityfridge, which a good friend of hers operates. The CDs went on sale on Tuesday morning.

Dunfermline, UK | New record shop unveiled on Dunfermline’s East Port: In a sound addition to the city, a new record store has opened shop on East Port. Drawn to Dunfermline’s music scene, Spaniards, Antonio Figuerola and Nuria Torres unveiled ‘Veneno Music Store’ on Saturday, a nostalgic shop offering albums for all tastes. Situated between Timpson and Outback hairdressers, the shop feels like an early 00s music store, with rows of VHS tapes, a box TV showing old music videos and even a record-covered ceiling. Antonio said: “I grew up in a record shop because my father owned one in Spain, and I’ve been selling records online for many years. I thought, ‘Why don’t I open my own shop?’ “I found this place, and it was a good price, so I thought I’d just go for it.”

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