Category Archives: A morning mix of news for the vinyl inclined

Minneapolis, MN | Electric Fetus owners say Franklin Avenue redesign will hurt business: For more than 55 years, Electric Fetus has stood as a Twin Cities record store landmark along Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. “We draw people from not only just the Twin City community, but from around the world,” Aaron Meyerring, co-owner of Electric Fetus, said. Owners Aaron Meyerring and Stephanie Meyerring said new plans to redesign Franklin Avenue would disrupt their years of success. “This design would be detrimental, not only to our business, but I just think our surrounding community and neighborhood,” Stephanie Meyerring said. Hennepin County’s plans include a reduction to three lanes and additional sidewalks and bike lanes. The county’s goal is to improve safety, accessibility and comfort along the roadway.

Cheshire, UK | Record shop owner says Covid helped realise dream: The owner of an independent record shop in Cheshire said the pandemic encouraged him to realise his dream of selling vinyl. Steve Cook quit his job as an internal auditor in 2022 to focus full-time on Applestump Records in Nantwich – named after the first record shop he went to as a boy. The move into retail began during lockdown when he and his wife Danielle could no longer enjoy their hobby of touring cities in the UK to buy records. “So we decided to try and make the record shop come to us,” said Mr Cook. They initially built a website and bought around 80 records to sell, which customers would collect from the end of their driveway or Mr Cook would deliver after work. He said it was very slow to start, but the “stroke of luck” came after being invited to be part of a pop-up market in a local café, which demonstrated the appetite for a record shop.

Cambridge, MA | Get ready for a Record Store Day walk and show from Cambridge Day and Hump Day News: Walk the walk. Punk the rock. That’s my current motto because on April 12 we’re celebrating Record Store Day with local artists, music merchants, and, hopefully, you! Here are the basics of this two-part throwdown. First, walk the walk. We’ve mapped some of our wonderful local record stores for a patent-pending Cambridge Day Record Store Walk. Construct your own route and see how many you can hit on Record Store Day. You may recall a similar call to action with last year’s “Totally Excellent Mid-January Cambridge Day-Approved Record Store Walk & You Better Dress Warm” article. Similar, except with better weather, on April 12 you can pick up specially marked copies of Cambridge Day’s print edition, The Week, in participating stores (Planet Records, vinyl index. and Big Dig Records).

Fort Myers, FL | Local record store and venue, Beach Records, closing after 6 years: Beach Records, a record store doubling as a music venue, is closing down after hundreds of shows and many more records sold. Owner Martin “Marty” Bourgeois is going on sabbatical after six years of serving the community with shows and records, reciprocating his love for live music and giving the scene a place to play and buy records. The shop has a vintage feel. Rows of used and new vinyl are packed in wooden boxes labeled in marker over recycled vinyl. Entering the store, you’ll feel like you’re in a collector’s garage, immersed in decades of records spanning many genres. It was a place for all music fans. Bourgeois is seeing this as more of a sabbatical than a closure. However, this location, which has been active since 2019, will close for good.

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South Devon, UK | Record store gets into the 21st-century groove with Start Up Loans: A husband-and-wife team are bringing a South Devon record store into the 21st century with the help of a Start Up Loan. The £5,000 loan, secured with the assistance of not-for-profit lender GC Business Finance, was used to update the shop’s branding, website and online sales provision. Lifelong vinyl fans Roger and Marsha Cox took over Phoenix Sounds in Newton Abbot in 2022 upon the retirement of its previous owner. “We were regular customers, and one day, sales assistant Jackie asked us, half-joking, ‘Would you like to buy the shop?’” recalls Roger, a fan of 80s music including Simple Minds and Depeche Mode. “We replied: yes, please! It was a huge step—we had to remortgage the house. At the time, I was working 80-hour weeks as an area manager for a cleaning company. In contrast, this isn’t work—we both love music. It was a no-brainer.”

Austin, TX | Last day parties at Waterloo Records mark final bow at North Lamar location: The decades-old record store is starting its farewell residency tour March 11 before it relocates to a spot down the road on North Lamar. Waterloo Records is hosting its Last Day Parties March 11 through March 14, featuring a variety of artist concerts throughout the week. Musical acts include Hope Tala, Vanessa Zamora, Jo Hill,Charley Crockett and more. The events are free and open to all ages, with most performances open to the public without badges, wristbands and RSVPs required. Capacity limits may apply. A number of sponsors and partners, including White Claw, Gold Rush Vinyl, Tequila 512, Rambler Water and more will be giving out a limited number of samples, vinyls and other products throughout the week-long celebration.

Milwaukee, WI | Vintage shop On and On Milwaukee rounds out flourishing block; offers fun promo: Love local art, vinyl records, vintage items and clothing? Put On & On Milwaukee on your swing-by list. The new biz also partnered with 10 vintage shops for “March Market Meltdown.” Until recently, Milwaukee and Scranton, Penn. had very little overlap. But now we have a vintage and handmade shop in Walker’s Point that’s the sister store to a similar spot in Scranton. (Yeah, yeah there will be more about “The Office.” Keep reading.) In October, On and On Milwaukee opened at 1031 S. 5th St. inside a former auto body shop. The marketplace features 40 local artists and vendors selling art, jewelry, vintage clothing and household items, vinyl records in an area of the shop called “Record Town” and more. “It’s a little bit of everything,” says co-owner Meegan Possemato.

Dallas, TX | Garland Welcomes 2 New Record Stores: The Dallas suburb is a record haven, with new locations from Josey and Dead Wax. On Saturday, May 17, the Texas Music Office will hold a ceremony in downtown Garland to designate the Dallas suburb as a “music-friendly city.” The ceremony comes amid a weekend celebration for Willie Nelson’s seminal Red Headed Stranger album, released and recorded 50 years ago in Garland. The city has done much in recent years to cultivate and grow its community, culminating in a massive revamp of its downtown square in 2023. The surrounding area may be starting to take notice. This month will mark the second local record store to open a new location in Garland. In November, North Texas music behemoth Josey Records opened its third location on Northwest Highway. The grand opening was on Saturday, Nov. 9, preceded by two days of soft launch celebration.

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Taunton, UK | Taunton record shop closes its doors as works begin: A record selling store in Taunton has temporarily closed its doors after serving its final customers last Saturday (March 8). Moore’s Music, located on Station Road, in Taunton, will close its doors to customers as the business gets a sort out. The owner has confirmed that the store will reopen ‘sometime in May.’ Known as one of the few places in Taunton where you can get vinyls, Moore’s Music’s owner was reportedly debating closing the business for good a number of times in the past months. The business had a huge clearance sale at the weekend, offering customers 50% off all vinyls and up to 30% off other items, such as hi-fi and CD players, films, and more. A sign has also been put in the shop’s window to confirm it will be closed for a few months.

San Antonio, TX | Record shop brings sweet sounds into San Antonio bar space: Visitors to the Southtown bar Gimme Gimme can now drift over to an adjacent space where they can dig for vintage vinyl records to their heart’s content. The owners of Gimme Gimme have transformed their next door wine bar concept, A Perfect Day, into a second location for Friends of Sound, a store that sells, buys and trades used records. Friends of Sound founder David Haffner hosted a grand opening party on March 7, including DJs spinning records all day and night. Bar co-owner Aaron Pena recalls having coffee one day last year on Fredericksburg Road near where the team at Friends of Sound was busy relocating their neighborhood shop. “I’ve known Friends of Sound since The Squeezebox days,” says Pena, referring to the bar and live music space he owned on North St. Mary’s Street for seven years until he closed it in 2024. “I’ve had a rapport with them.”

Manchester, UK | New music venue and events space to open in Manchester’s northern quarter, renae: renae is set to feature a record store, dancefloor, and more across multiple floors. A brand new music venue, record store, and events space is set to open in Manchester’s Northern Quarter at the end of the month. renae will open for the first time on Friday, March 28, featuring a dedicated dancefloor, a bar area, space to throw live music events, co-working desks, and a record and book store. …Launched by local DJs and hospitality workers Brad Parkins and Harris Mouridis (AKA Mouridis), renae draws from the pair’s expertise in nightlife, bringing together their shared passion for music. Speaking to DJ Mag, Mouridis explained that renae will operate as a “hub for people who are into music and decent hospitality, so you can come and listen to great tracks on the ground floor, which will be very informal and open to everyone.”

Isle of Man, UK | Much-loved Isle of Man record shop for sale as owners say it’s ‘time for a change.’ ‘The demands of retail and social media have taken a toll on my personal wellbeing.’ A much-loved Isle of Man music shop, Sound Records, has been put up for sale, offering a unique opportunity for music enthusiasts to take over the established business. The independent record store, located on Wellington Street in Douglas, is run by passionate record lovers Ed Oldham and Jack Doyle. Since opening, Sound Records has built a strong reputation for its extensive vinyl collection, vintage clothing, record players, and guitar equipment. It’s had a number of locations in Douglas, most recently moving to their current store on Wellington Street in October 2021. However, the owners have now announced they are ready to move on to their next challenge. In a heartfelt social media post on Sunday evening, Jack shared the news with the shop’s loyal customers.

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UK | Putting finishing touches to Record Store Day plans: I finished placing our orders for Record Store Day on Wednesday, which is always a relief. The earliest order had to be in last week but quite a few had a deadline for the middle of next week. My last two decisions were whether to stock an EP by Wallows, who are a band we are occasionally asked about but whose album we didn’t stock last year, and whether to take even more Charli XCX than I originally intended given her success at the Brits. In the end I hedged my bets on Wallows and took a couple and more obviously increased what was already a large order for the two Charli XCX releases. There had already been some tricky decisions with two female singers who are big sellers for us in Gracie Abrams and Laufey both having live albums released for Record Store Day. The young girls who make up most of our sales are certainly fans but not collectors the way fans of some of the other older artists are and may well decide they don’t need a live album.

Barrie, ON | Music lovers ‘devastated’ by impending closure of local Sunrise Records: ‘It’s a spot my dad and I regularly come to, so it’s kind of a closed opportunity for us and other record buyers, too,’ says record collector. A popular destination for local music lovers is closing its doors after more than two decades. Sunrise Records, located inside Bayfield Mall in Barrie’s north end, is scheduled to pull the metal security gate closed for good at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, store manager Earl Young told BarrieToday. The store, which sells a wide variety of vinyl records, games and other pop-culture paraphernalia, was previously a Sam the Record Man before being taken over by Sunrise Records, noted Young. While the outside of the store boasted a 50 per cent off sale on apparel today, Young said there weren’t really any big sales on vinyl. “Everyone wants everything to be on sale now that we are closing … if the whole company was closing that would be different, but it’s just our location,” he said, noting Sunrise Records has more than 80 stores across Canada.

Glasgow, UK | Glasgow gets new independent record store as Second Line opens in the west end: Second Line Records has opened on Hyndland Road offering an independent record shop with an extensive collection of music genres such as hip-hop, soul and blues. Glasgow’s music fans can now enjoy a new independent record store after the city’s latest spot opened in the west end. Second Line Records has just opened on Hyndland Road, offering an extensive collection of music genres. While specialising in jazz, the shop boasts an eclectic mix of genres, from hip-hop to soul and blues. The new store, which opened in February, has a sleek wooden interior and features an in-store dedicated listening lounge with cosy seats and listening posts where you can sit and enjoy the rare and high-end re-issues of classics and live recordings available in store. The team behind the shop say the name of the store is a nod to New Orleans jazz parades, with the parade leader and band named the ‘first line’, while the ‘second line’ were the strutting revellers who would fall in behind to dance and listen to the music.

San Antonio, TX | Friends of Sound opens cool, new location in Southtown neighborhood: The record shop is replacing a short-lived wine bar. Big things have been happening for Friends of Sound, the long-running record shop that’s served San Antonio for nearly a decade. In January, the Beacon Hill vinyl seller moved a few blocks away from its home on Fredericksburg Road, landing at a new space between NoFi Slow Bar and The Wicked Wich. This month, Friends of Sound also expanded with a new location in Southtown. If you ever visited wine bar A Perfect Day, you’ve already been inside of the new Friends of Sound. The difference is, instead of dining tables and wine bottles on display, you’ll now find a curated collection of records spanning every genre from funk to punk. On Wednesday afternoon, I stopped by the reimagined space, which remains connected to Bar Gimme Gimme with its own entrance on South St. Mary’s, like the previous neighboring concept.

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UK | HMV puts UK expansion on hold because of budget tax rises: Retailer had hoped to open more stores in Britain in coming year but will do so in Ireland and Belgium instead: HMV has put its UK expansion on hold and is to open stores in Ireland and Belgium instead, because of rising wage costs announced in last autumn’s budget that begin next month. Phil Halliday, the managing director of the entertainment retailer, said it had hoped to open up to 10 more stores in the UK in the coming year but had put that plan on hold as it was “peddling pretty hard” to maintain profits despite strong sales growth. Sales rose 6.5% to £189.6m in the year to 30 May 2024, as the group reopened its Oxford Street store in London and grew online sales amid a resurgence in traditional formats including vinyl and CDs, but pre-tax profit fell more than 6% to £4.9m amid rising costs led by higher wages, according to accounts filed at Companies House this week.

UK | The Vinyl Revival: Why John Lewis and WHSmith Are Selling Records Again. The UK music industry has recently witnessed an unexpected but favorable trend – a 20-year high in physical album sales. In digital streaming societies, traditional formats such as vinyl, CDs, and even cassettes are making a comeback. Major retailers such as John Lewis and WHSmith have responded by restoring the sale of vinyl records after being off the shelves for decades. In 2024, the UK saw a 1.4% growth in the sales of physical albums and this resulted in 17.4 million units being sold, the first increase in sales since 1994 (Official Charts Company, 2024). This growth was mainly due to a 9.1% rise in sales of vinyl which had been reignited and reached a 30-year high of 6.7 million units. Remarkably, only three out of the top 10 best-selling vinyl albums were old records, which means that new artists are equally as relevant to this trend as old-school artists (Official Charts Company, 2024).

Chicago, IL | Flipside Records Remembered: Flip Side owners Carl and Larry Rosenbaum had three choices they were considering at the beginning of their careers. “Hot dog stand, a dry cleaner, or a record store,” Larry confirms. “And fortunately, we chose record store.” That record store became an empire in Chicago (1970s—1990s), a string of stores throughout Chicagoland, soon to be accompanied by a concert promotion arm, Celebration/Flip Side. The two brothers, who had considered opening a dry cleaner, became major players in the rock and roll business. But it didn’t come without defeating some scary crosswinds. “Yeah, the mob came after us,” Larry says. “When you’re approached by a couple of thugs that tell you that they’re going to be partners in your concert business, and you have meetings after that. That indeed was terrifying.”

Reykjavík, IS | Watch Lúpína perform live in session for Best Fit in Smekkleysa records in Reykjavík: Ahead of her US shows this month at SXSW and New Colossus, we’re dropping a session filmed at the Sugarcubes-founded record store Smekkleysa during Iceland Airwaves last year with rising uber-talented Nína Solveig Andersen – better known as lúpina. Under the name Luípina, Oslo-based Andersen kicked off her solo career in 2022 after releasing two records with experimental folk trio Dymbrá. The 21-year-old half-Norwegian, half-Icelandic songwriter and producer wrote most of her 2023 debut album ringluð as part of a school project and followed up with her second album marglytta back in the autumn last year. The record blends complex layers of synths, soundscapes and captivating lyrics, fusing the electronic with a pop sensibility.

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Bridgeport, CT | The Emporium, Bridgeport record shop to close its doors this month: A Bridgeport store specializing in vinyl records and antique books and ephemera will be closing down at the end of this month, according to its owner, Mike Roer. The Emporium’s last day is March 31, Roer confirmed to Connecticut Insider. “The traffic really never recovered after COVID,” Roer said, adding that he noticed car and foot traffic dwindle near the shop post-pandemic. The Fairfield Avenue shop boasts thousands of vinyl records that range from house music to classic rock. Shelves of the store also have antiquarian books and other historical items for sale. Roer said that some of the books and “historical items and historical ephemera” will be donated to Bridgeport’s library.

Lynchburg, VA | RiverView Vinyl moves to 5th street: A Lynchburg record store has moved locations with big plans in the works. RiverView Vinyl is now open in the former Easy Speak Dance Hall space on Fifth street. Co-Owner Steven Ramsey said they are excited to have more room to expand and host events. “The bar, being able to run larger shows at that point, obviously not too big, but music is a big part of what we do here and live music at that point is also very important,” Ramsey said.

Upper Darby, PA | This Upper Darby Record Collector Has a Store, But You Shouldn’t Stay Too Long: The owner of R&B Records in Upper Darby has an interesting customer approach: if you must come to his store, don’t stay long and know what you want, writes Beccah Hendrickson at 6abc. Val Shively prefers doing business by mail. “This is a landfill, not a record shop,” he said. The store, open since 1990, gives him somewhere to keep his extensive collection. “I sell records. I sell enough to still be here. But I love to buy, that’s my game. That’s me at my best,” Shively said. The older and more obscure, the better. He’s been collecting records since the 1950s. “I heard this record ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ by Elvis Presley when I was 12 years old, and I went nuts. I don’t know what it was. It just hypnotized me or mesmerized me or something,” he said. It’s possible he has the largest record collection in the world, numbering in the millions.

Memphis, TN | Record company opening warehouse in Memphis: Light in the Attic Records announced plans to open a warehouse in Memphis. Light in the Attic was established in Seattle in 2002. They largely produce re-issues of classic albums on vinyl. The company is seeking to hire employees in Memphis. They will join Memphis Record Pressing in the Bluff City, which already produces about 100,000 records each day.

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Wirral, UK | West Kirby’s Dig Vinyl to take part in Record Store Day: A Wirral vinyl shop has announced it will be taking part in Record Store Day. Dig Vinyl in West Kirby has announced that it will participate in Record Store Day UK on Saturday, April 12, 2025. This marks the shop’s second year taking part after its successful debut last year. Record Store Day, which began in 2007, celebrates and promotes the distinctive culture of independent record shops with special vinyl releases made exclusively for the event and stocked only by participating retailers on the day. Over the years, it has evolved into a global celebration of record shops, with thousands of stores taking part across the world, including over 260 in the UK. Dig Vinyl expanded to Wirral in November 2023, opening its second shop on Banks Road in West Kirby marking a major milestone in Dig Vinyl’s decade-long journey, which began with the opening of its Bold Street shop in Liverpool back in 2014.

AU | Record Store Day 2025 Australian release list gets updated: Several new titles have been added to the list, including You Am I’s Someone Else’s Crowd: Live at Memorial Stadium, Seattle, August 1994 12”. Two new titles have been added to the list of Aussie vinyl dropping on this year’s Record Store Day. You Am I are releasing Someone Else’s Crowd: Live at Memorial Stadium, Seattle, August 1994 12” for the very first time on vinyl. The record will be released on black vinyl with new album artwork. Royel Otis are also releasing their Nashville Sessions EP 10”, which is sure to be snapped up quickly by fans of the band. These two Aussie acts join the likes of local artists Danni Minogue, Pond, The Saints and everybody’s favourite cartoon dog, Bluey, who all have special edition vinyl available on Saturday, April 12. Confidence Man, Ruel and The Veronicas also have Australian imports up for grabs for international fans.

UK | Record Store Day 2025: When is it, Scottish participating shops, available records, how to buy, and can you buy online? Vinyl outsold CDs for the first time in over 35 years in 2024—meaning that this year’s event celebrating the reinvigorated music medium is likely to be as popular than ever. Record Store Day has become a major event for vinyl lovers since the inaugural event in the US in 2007 sold barely more than 10 different limited edition pressings by artists including Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M. and Stephen Malkmus. Now over 200 independent record stores across the UK take part each year, selling thousands of copies of exclusive vinyl, from new releases to old classics. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event.

Sarasota, FL | Record collector turns passion into retail with Vinyl Vault: The vintage record store held its grand opening March 2, inviting The Garbage-Men band for a performance. When he found a space in an old plaza near Downtown Sarasota, Brad Schalk decided it was the perfect retro spot to house vintage records. He had started collecting records in high school before he moved into selling them. On March 2, his store, Vinyl Vault, held its grand opening celebration. While the new store has around 20,000 vintage records in stock, he hopes it will also serve as a hub for the community, offering “open mics and kind of a community outreach.” “I want to be a touchstone for the community to bring collections in that maybe they don’t know much about, and then feature that stuff,” he said.

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Miami, FL | Adrian Quesada Helps Sweat Records Celebrate 20th Anniversary: Sweat Records has long championed the work by Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada. Adrian Quesada, the multitalented musician and producer behind Black Pumas, is set to headline Sweat Records’ 20th-anniversary celebration at ZeyZey on March 15. While the event is primarily a testament to the two decades of Sweat’s dedication to Miami’s music scene, Quesada’s presence adds an extra layer of significance, as the independent record store has long championed his solo work. The Latin Grammy-winning Mexican-American artist grew up in Laredo, Texas, absorbing a rich blend of musical influences that have shaped his diverse career. “Because I grew up in a border town between two countries, two languages, and two cultures, I have always found it easy to navigate between various worlds, particularly in music…”

Devon, UK | ‘Cherished our time on Queen Street’, says record shop ahead of move: ‘We have cherished our time on Queen Street’ says a Newton Abbot record shop ahead of its move to new premises within the town. Phoenix Sounds, one of Devon’s leading, independent record shops, has today, Monday, March 3, announced that will be leaving Queen Street. The shop says the decision is not linked the controversial scheme to enhance the road, rather it is a result of ‘rising costs’ which ‘forced us to look for alternative premises to ensure the survival of Phoenix Sounds.’ ‘We have cherished our time on Queen Street, but this next chapter presents an exciting opportunity to keep bringing you great music, brilliant finds, and the same passionate service—just in a new spot’ Phoenix Sounds’ Marsha and Roger Cox said. Phoenix Sounds, whose current lease ends on June 14, will reopen in new premises in East Street, a stones throw from St Leonards clock tower, on Monday, June 23.

Boise, ID | Record Exchange faces possible price increases as Trump tariffs take effect: In the past weeks, the Trump Administration has unleashed a barrage of tariffs against some foreign countries, impacting their business. The Record Exchange in downtown Boise is a place where people can find a bit of reprieve from the monotony of everyday life. However, the owners cannot ignore what is happening in the real world. In the past weeks, the Trump Administration has unleashed a barrage of tariffs against some foreign countries, and co-owner and marketing director Chad Dryden said it is impacting their business. “It’s a nice thing to go into a record store when you need some mental comfort food, and spend a couple hours on a Saturday and forget everything that’s swirling around in the world or your world, and to come here and buy a record and go home and engage with that and feel better about yourself,” Dryden said.

Sydney, AU | Andrea Black travels the world for vinyl records, these spots stand out: Based in Sydney, travel writer Andrea Black’s love of collecting music has taken her on a quest to visit record shops over the world. Andrea Black started collecting records when she was 16. “I grew up in Perth and every Saturday my friends and I would go to Dada Records to sift through the racks and then to 78 Records to hunt for vinyl. My husband collects as well—between us we have about 10,000 records,” she says. “I like to find records that came from the city I’m travelling in. Memphis and New Orleans are particularly good for this as both cities have produced a rich vein of music. “I have bought a few portable record players on my travels because I can’t wait to get home to play the records.” Here, she shares her favourite locations for record shopping.

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Houston, TX | Physical Music Is More Popular Than Ever in Houston: Even in the digital age, independent record stores like Cactus Music and Vinal Edge are thriving thanks to music fans wanting to support their favorite artists. …Vinyl, as a medium, never actually went away. Even as cassette tapes, CDs, and then digital files all became mainstream distribution options for artists and record labels, the little polymer that could continues chugging along to entertain physical media collectors, serve as an owned archive in an age of licensing, and provide musicians with higher royalty rates than what they’d otherwise receive with an mp3 file. In fact, Billboard revealed that, in 2022, 43 percent of albums sold were vinyl records, representing a 17-year pattern of growth. “It’s just a great format overall. Just the size of it. You get the graphics. There’s the ritual of it. You can put in really cool posters and all kinds of stuff. You can have fun with the packaging, and it’s just vibrant, you know…”

Hobart, AU | Hobart-based Suffragette Records part of movement to amplify female artists in male-dominated industry: When visiting this record store in Hobart you might find Lauren Carter and her three daughters playing hidden gems or well-loved works from a breadth of female artists. In 2020, Lauren was on a mission to listen to more music by women. But whilst sifting through the crates of records at her local record stores, she became frustrated, unable to find her favourite artists on vinyl. After breakfast one morning she posed an idea to her husband Oberon: a record store that just celebrates music by women. Three months later, Suffragette Records was opened at Battery Point. …Passionate about empowering women, Suffragette Records is an extension of the values Lauren instilled within her daughters from a young age. “I’ve always said to girls, ‘Make sure you take up space, because you deserve to be here, and you deserve to do whatever you want to do.'”

Stone, UK | Sad sign of the times as record store shuts today and goes completely online: It has been open for seven years. A town centre record store is shutting today – and going completely online. Fish Records has been in Crown Courtyard, in Stone, for the past seven years. But it closes for good this afternoon. It follows a closing-down sale in recent weeks. In a social media message to customers, the shop stated: “It is with regret that we at Fish Records announce the closure of our Stone shop from 1 March. Unfortunately it is no longer viable to operate a physical record store. We will continue to operate online with an enhanced and expanded offer. “We would like to thank those loyal customers and friends made over the past seven years. Your support has been appreciated. To those who still come in and say I didn’t know Stone had a record shop well it won’t from 1 March.”

Leeds, UK | The Vinyl Whistle: How a Leeds record store once owned by a Premier League referee became a West Brom stronghold: Leeds might be a one club city but one small corner is firmly Albion. To be more precise, it’s the corner of a record shop. Wander into the back room of The Vinyl Whistle in Headingley, a 15-minute drive or so from Elland Road and you can’t help but notice three pictures on the wall behind the counter. …Westwater is an Albion season ticket holder who has lived in Leeds for more than 30 years and bought the shop nearly 18 months ago from its previous owner, former Premier League referee, Jon Moss. It is the latter who was responsible for its witty, football-themed name. “I was never going to change that,” smiles Westwater. “The football connection suits me down to the ground as that and music are my two passions.

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Denver, CO | Despite rising costs and competition, Denver record stores are spinning gold from new customers: By any standard, Greg Daniels is a Denver music veteran. He’s been playing in bands since the mid-1990s, and has lately been reissuing albums from his past groups Glass Hits and Vaux on limited cassette runs, then selling them at his Drop To Pop Records and Curio, at 2185 N. Broadway in downtown Denver. Despite its 88-square-foot footprint—and the fact that it’s only open Thursdays through Saturdays—he sees a steady stream of tourists, vinyl collectors and scenesters digging through his curated collection of vintage punk, indie rock, jazz and pop LPs. As the only record store in the commercial core of downtown, he also sees music legends such as Billy Corgan (of Smashing Pumpkins) pop in for a look, thanks to online searches that balance out his lack of pedestrian traffic.

Miami, FL | Sweat Records Celebrates 20 Years of Music, Community, and Resilience: Sweat Records, Miami’s beloved independent record store, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Sweat Records, Miami’s independent record store staple, is gearing up for a monumental milestone—its 20th anniversary. Founded in 2005 by Lolo Reskin, Sweat has not only weathered the ups and downs of Miami’s volatile cultural and real-estate landscape but has also emerged as a key player in shaping the city’s music scene. To commemorate the occasion, Sweat is hosting a special 20th-anniversary event on Saturday, March 15, at ZeyZey, featuring an impressive lineup. Headlining the night is Grammy winner Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas performing some songs from his albums Boleros Psicodélicos and Jaguar Sound.

Manchester, UK | New Northern Quarter venue will double up as bar, book shop and record store: A brand-new music-led bar and venue is set to open in Manchester’s Northern Quarter this spring. renae, which will open on Thomas Street, is described as a ‘multi-concept venue set to redefine community spaces.’ The project is a shared vision of two long-time friends who first met on a dance floor back in 2010. Opening in stages, renae begins its journey with the launch of its ground-floor neighbourhood music-led bar on Fri 28 Mar. By day, the ‘laid-back yet stylish space’ will operate as a curated record and book shop, with an intimate bar serving craft beers, natural wines, and cocktails at ‘accessible prices’ late on into the evening. DJ and digger Patrick Ryder from Manchester collective Talking Drums, formerly of Piccadilly Records, will be stocking the finest new releases from global boutique labels alongside a second-hand selection of crowd-pleasing classics, rarities and future favourites.

Richmond, VA | Coffee-and-records shop Le Cache Dulcet opening in Arts District: A former music industry pro relocating from the West Coast is turning his love of coffee and vinyl records into a new business venture in Richmond. Patrick Weaver planned to open Le Cache Dulcet at 109 E. Broad St. on Friday. The coffee-and-records combo was inspired by Weaver’s years living in Los Angeles, where he rekindled a passion for vinyl and developed an interest in coffee over professional and social meetups in the city’s cafés. “In 2017, I started to pay attention to what I was drinking, picking up the terminology and what I liked to drink at these cafés. It was around that time I got back into collecting records…”

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Asheville, NC | Harvest Records celebrated its 20th anniversary as vinyl records continue to inspire a new generation of musicians in Asheville: Asheville serves as a foundation for the comeback of vinyl as local stores continue to promote the narrative of a beloved classic into the hands of a new generation, according to Harvest Records Co-Owner Mark Capon. “I don’t know that we ever would have necessarily predicted the vinyl resurgence as it is now, but I think we’ve always known from the beginning that there’s people like us that want to support musicians, buy music, collect music, have that experience with music that’s beyond just the digital relationship,” Capon said. …“We set out to create a space that sold music but also was sort of a safe fun environment for people to just congregate and hang out, and talk about their lives and talk about music and what it means to them…”

London, UK | Grooves Records is London’s vinyl haven for music lovers: Though small and narrow, Grooves Records is brimming with character. Step inside, and the walls are plastered with gig posters and album release flyers, while shelves overflow with vinyl in every colour and pressing—most shrink-wrapped, others well-worn from years of love. Music plays softly in the background, never too loud but always drawing you in. Some days, it’s a newly released album. Other days, it’s a hidden gem that makes you stop in your tracks, forcing you to listen. Grooves was founded 21 years ago by Troy Hutchison and David Clarke, both veterans of the city’s legendary Dr. Disc Records shop. “We were both vinyl fans,” Hutchison says. “It wasn’t quite how it is today back then, but we made vinyl a priority while stocking CDs and DVDs, and it slowly grew from there.” While the name wasn’t chosen on a whim, it didn’t take long to settle on it. “We were just spitballing names, and that one was on the list, and it stuck,” Hutchison laughs. “It’s one of those classic, solid record store names.”

Long Beach, CA | World Famous VIP Records sign may get a new home across from original Long Beach store: After years of languishing in storage, city officials are planning to return the famous VIP Records sign to Central Long Beach. Officials confirmed last week—barring public disapproval—their desire to raise the sign at the southwest corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, across the street from the original storefront location. It will sit on a quarter-acre plot of public land, which officials said can be used to hold events, artwork or something more permanent—it all depends on what the community wants, they said. The location was laid out during a community forum Thursday at Long Beach City College, during which officials detailed building plans ahead of the Summer Olympics in 2028.

Randolph, VT | Speaking Volumes Opens Third Store in Downtown Randolph: The purveyor of used books, records, vintage clothing and antiques will set up shop in an old grain mill on Main Street and will also offer Vermont-made crafts. Central Vermont will soon have a new purveyor of used books, antiques, vintage clothing and vinyl when Speaking Volumes opens its third store, in downtown Randolph. Proprietor Norbert Ender said he’s excited to continue the tradition of promoting “slow shopping and slow fashion” with the upcoming launch of the new location. The Austria native and former restaurateur opened his first used-book store in 2006 on Burlington’s Pine Street behind Barge Canal Market, the latter of which he also founded but has since sold. He followed that with a record store and audio repair shop across the street on Marble Avenue. “Over the years I’ve been accumulating so much inventory, and I’ve been looking for additional outlets,” said Ender.

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Summit, NJ | Local music fans are sad about record shop’s closing: After nearly 70 years in business, Scotti’s Record Shops is coming to an end. The store was first opened in Summit in 1956 by Anthony Scotti. There were also additional locations in Madison, Morristown, Chester and Gillette. Through the years, the stores were consolidated and the Morristown shop closed in 2011. Anthony’s son, Gary, has been running the Summit store since the early 1980s. In addition to thousands of vinyl records and compact discs, the store also carried turntables, cleaners, receivers, speakers, rock T-shirts, books, posters, vintage memorabilia and recycled vinyl crafts. They also sometimes had live music at the store and participated in Record Store Day since it officially began in 2008. …There is no specific date for the store’s closing, but Scotti anticipates near the end of February.

Saskatoon, SK | 100 per cent used Resurrected Records opens in downtown Drinkle Mall: “We’re trying to bring in the big names, the ones that people look at and go, oh damn, I can’t believe this is here.” Businesses and non-profit organizations regularly open and move in Saskatoon. Today, the StarPhoenix talks to Nicholas Kucey who opened Resurrected Records downtown in the Drinkle Mall in December. Kucey bought a turntable about five years ago, which ignited a passion for records. He has travelled all over Western Canada tracking rare records down and decided a space to buy and sell records would be ideal. His store now features over 5,000 records of all varieties. Kucey shares a space in Drinkle Mall with Lindsay Scarrow, who opened Replacing You, selling a wide variety of clothing. Watch for a feature on Replacing You in next week’s New Faces, New Places in the StarPhoenix.

Watford, UK | Looking back at a much-loved Watford record shop: Finding the latest music from your favourite group or singer can be as simple as picking up a mobile phone and searching an online streaming service but for plenty of people it will always be a much more physical act. Visiting a shop and browsing through rows of records or CDs was an essential part of growing up for so many of us—and it continues to this day for some readers. While stores such as HMV, Our Price or Virgin would have been the preferred destination of some music fans, others opted for a trip to an independent retailer—and in Watford there was one that will hold fond memories for plenty of readers. Located in St Albans Road, Past & Present records had a big selection that catered for virtually every genre imaginable. This picture was taken by a Watford Observer photographer on 23 years ago on February 1, 2002 when, sadly, our photographers’ diary records the shop was closing.

UK | On side A, our baby’s first words! The vinyl-carver sparking a craze for cutting records at home: Using a diamond needle, lathe-cutters can turn blank vinyl discs into your very own record—with a pressing run of however many or few you fancy. We report on a booming business. If you want to buy a bespoke, brand-new machine to cut your own vinyl records at home, there seems to be just one man who can help you. Ulrich Sourisseau’s workshop is in a disused railway station in a remote part of the Black Forest in Germany, and he is in extremely high demand. He’s selective about who he sells his machines to, and if he does agree to make you a bit of kit, he’s a little old-school. “He’s cash-only, so I had to travel there with €7,000 on me,” recalls Jon Downing, who bought one back in 2017. Downing then began running his own micro record label in Sheffield, Do It Thissen (that’s “do it yourself” in Yorkshire dialect), specialising in music from his home region.

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Marquette, MI | Emporium record store hosts grand opening: The Emporium record store hosted a grand opening event on Friday, Feb. 14 at their new location on Third Street in downtown Marquette. The store carries gently used vintage vinyl along with vintage toys, CDs, comics and more. “We also pride ourselves on tracking down that elusive recording that you’re looking for and filling special orders,” said Jon Teichman, the store’s owner. Community members were welcomed to stop in and browse the store, something the owner had been looking forward to for months. “All the challenges and stress of the last four months just melted away once the first customer walked through the door at high noon on Friday and the steady flow of people continued all throughout the day until we closed the doors at 8 p.m. that night,” Teichman said.

Linden, MI | Jack’s Record Stache finds new home in Linden, pays homage to Flint roots: Looking for the latest Grammy winners? Or maybe you are searching for a vinyl that has a limited edition? Jack’s Record Stache may just be what you need. The music haven recently opened at 123 N. Bridge Street in downtown Linden. The beloved record store was previously nestled into the space near Flint Local 432 for more than five years. The move comes from the owner, Jerry Crago, finding his way to be closer to home after he and his wife recently had a child. Crago said he is excited for this new chapter, as downtown Linden has seen a boom in new businesses open in the last few years, including a bookstore, coffee shop and new skate shop. “I just had a desire to be closer to home, be able to be around my son more and even be able to bring him into work,” Crago said. “It’s a small town. My wife and I live there, which is a big part of the move. Our new shop, it’s located right in the heart of downtown.”

Lima, OH | Community rallies to support Groamy’s after fire: On Jan. 12, Groamy’s CDs and Tapes was damaged in a fire. Since then, the business has been out of commission—but the community came together to host a benefit for the store. Hosted by Lima’s Finest Food Company, supporters of Groamy’s and bands from near and far turned out to help him get the store back up and running. A silent auction featured a variety of donated items and memorabilia—and, of course, the bands performed rockin’ music for the crowd. The event showcased what Groamy and his business mean to the Lima community. “He has done so much for the community that when it happened, we instantly were like, “What can we do?” He’s done so much for the bands, and really, anything that goes on here in Lima, he’s done so much for them that we really wanted to kind of show him that Lima appreciates everything and get him back on his feet.”

Duncan, BC | Business Notes: Doom City Records opens in downtown Duncan: A new record store has opened above the Duncan Garage Cafe & Bakery. Doom City Records, which opened just before Christmas, sells used and new records, CDs, cassettes, local art and other merchandise. Owner Jeremy Horgan said he has always had a passion for music, and really enjoys chatting with people about it, so it seemed only natural to him that he’d open a record store. Horgan, who is from Duncan, said he worked at Red Arrow Brewing for seven years before opening Doom City Records, and graduated with a Masters in Business degree from the University of Victoria last summer, so he’s well grounded in what it takes to run a successful business. He said, in partnership with Cowichan Green Community, Doom City Records will donate 100 per cent of sales from records donated to the store to the Pregnancy Food Connections Program, which provides vouchers for vegetables, beef and eggs to pregnant women, for the rest of the year.

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Marquette, MI | The Emporium vintage vinyl opens in new location: The Emporium on South Third Street is part record shop, part boutique, and part pop culture museum. The brainchild of music aficionado and pop culture expert John Teichman, the Emporium is not just a music shop, but a repository of memories, “There’s really something for everybody. Certainly, we have a lot of new and used, gently used, vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, VHS, DVDs, T-shirts, stickers, jewelry, original art, books, and a little bit of everything,” said Teichman. Teichman describes the items available at the Emporium as artifacts, pieces of Americana, and a conduit to a specific time in our lives. “The unifying theme is really that we want everybody who walks through the door to connect with something that they find, something that they see,” explained Teichman. Having been on Washington Street previously, John chose his new location carefully, wanting to be a part of the community that is uniquely Third Street.

Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia’s Only Black-Owned Record Shop and Listening Room: SOOK Vinyl & Vintage: Tucked away in the heart of Germantown, SOOK Vinyl & Vintage is more than just a record shop—it’s a cultural hub dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black music, art, and history. Located at 7169 Germantown Ave, SOOK is Philadelphia’s only Black-owned record store, offering a space where vinyl collectors, music lovers, and culture enthusiasts can gather, discover, and engage with Black artistry in its most tangible form. Founded by Rashied Amon, SOOK Vinyl & Vintage is the culmination of years of passion, persistence, and community engagement. The store’s roots trace back to 2021 when Amon launched the Black Culture Museum, an annual pop-up event showcasing vintage Black music, apparel, and memorabilia. “I’m a son of a DJ. I came across my father’s collection in my grandmother’s attic maybe 10 to 15 years after he passed,” Amon shared during an interview with The Quintessential Gentleman. “That drove me to go and collect vintage Black music, tangible media, wherever I came across it. And that’s how this shop came to be.”

UK | These are the UK record shops inspiring your fave new artists: Crate-diggers, it’s time to go on a road trip. Record shops are magical places. Not only are they the perfect place to discover your new favourite band or fall back in love with a familiar classic, they also offer a powerful introduction to the community that music inspires. Last year it was reported that the demand for vinyl had increased in the UK for the 16th year in a row while the number of indie records stores also hit a 10-year high, with 461 to choose from. To celebrate this continued interest in the art of crate-digging—and as part of our ongoing partnership with all-around audiophiles Marshall, who know a good vinyl shop when they see one—we decided to ask some of our favourite new acts for their record store recs…

Chattanooga, TN | Driving Our Economy Forward: Yellow Racket Records. …Ben Vanderhart, Owner, Yellow Racket Records says, “Welcome to Yellow Racket Records. The name just came to me sort of like an epiphany. I was starting a record label, and I had a collie at the time, and I drew his portrait on a Post-it note and I wrote yellow racket records, and it just stuck. I just liked it. He was my racket. He was really loud. He had a big bar. We wanted to start a record store, and we signed a lease in February 2020. I got the keys the first week of March and then the next week the whole world shut down. When you look at sort of the evolution of formats overtime going from vinyl to 8 tracks to cassette to CD. It was all about portability and convenience. And now the most portable in the most convenient way of listening to music is on your phone or smart device and using the Internet. But I think a lot of people have found it that leaves a gap.”

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The must have records for Record Store Day 2025: Record Store Day is a day for celebrating iconic records. Exclusive releases will be available, anywhere from classic albums to unreleased demos from your favorite artists. There are over 100 limited editions this year, but these are the must haves for vinyl collectors in 2025. Three time GRAMMY-winner, Charli XCX, will be releasing 10,000 units of Number 1 Angel, a collection of 10 tracks that were recorded over the span of a month at her residence in LA and in the UK. 10,000 units of a 7″ vinyl for “Guess (feat. Billie Eilish)” will also be available. The Cure will be releasing their 6th studio album, The Head on the Door, on a picture disc for the very first time. The album was originally released in 1985 and was produced by Robert Smith and Dave Allen at Abbey Road Studios in London. The LP features tracks like “The Blood,” “Close To Me,” and “A Night Like This.”

Millcreek, UT | Groove on: Vinyl Revival returning to Millcreek Common. Vinyl record collectors may want to swing by the Millcreek Common soon for some good old-fashioned crate digging. Vinyl Revival will spin at the Public Market at Millcreek Common from Feb. 27 through March 30, seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For even more record fun, the event is expanding from two weeks last year to a whole month. A grand opening will be held on March 1 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., with activities such as record bowl making, screen printing, live DJs, and a Utah Lowriders car show. In addition to hundreds of records, the pop-up market will also feature CDs, cassettes, concert memorabilia, rock ‘n roll clothing, accessories, and more. “Vinyl records are making a comeback. I think people are drawn to the nostalgia of their youth with vinyls. Listening to vinyl can be a more engaging experience that connects people with each other and the music.

Minneapolis, MN | Famed Minneapolis record store name-dropped on FOX’s new show: The longtime record store wasn’t aware ahead of its mention. FOX’s new TV drama, “Doc,” name-dropped a famed Minneapolis record store in its latest episode. The mention of Electric Fetus, which has sold records in Minnesota since 1968, came during the episode that air Tuesday evening. A patient in the show mentioned how much of a fan he was of Prince, naming albums like Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, and of course, Purple Rain “Controversy,” “1999” and “Purple Rain.” Actor Scott Wolf (playing the remarkably well-informed Dr. Richard Miller) later said this to the patient: “I’ll tell you what, once you heal you can hit up the Electric Fetus for some vinyl. Prince practically lived there.” The beloved local record store quoted the line, adding: “Just what the #DocOnFOX ordered!!” An Instagram user asked the store if they knew about the mention ahead of time, and Electric Fetus replied that they had “no clue.”

Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh Has A New Artist-Run Vinyl Pressing Plant—Hellbender Vinyl: A new artist-run vinyl pressing plant is operational in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, catering to artists of all career levels. Hellbender Vinyl is co-founded by Jeff Betten and Matt Dowling and based in the Lawrenceville neighborhood in the East End. Hellbender is a relatively new company, but it has quickly become one of the most trusted vinyl processing plants. It manufactures 7”, 10”, and 12” vinyl records with a commitment to delivering award-winning customer service. Hellbender is a member of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) and aims to support artists at every stage—from emerging talents to well-established names. It is one of only 40 vinyl pressing plants in the United States, offering artists a chance to have their music available to fans in a sought after physical format.

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