Louisville, KY | Better Days Records opens new, larger storefront on Barret Avenue: For more than three decades, Ben Jones has been accumulating a vast collection of vinyl records, CDs and other music formats — a collection so large that he didn’t have room for it all between his two Better Days Records stores. Jones, who has owned and operated Better Days Records in Louisville since 1979, told me he has collected some 50,000 pieces over the years and has much of it in storage. But when the coronavirus pandemic forced his business to temporarily close in March, Jones saw an opportunity. “When we were shut down for three and a half months, I thought, ‘Well, what would be the best plan of attack for the pandemic and help keep the business alive?'” he said in a phone interview. That plan? A larger storefront with space for Jones’ entire inventory as well as socially distanced shopping.
Washington, DC | 4 local shops to browse for holiday gifts, in-stores and online: Byrdland Records. Byrdland Records, Songbyrd Music House’s newest project, has made in-store safety a priority since opening near Union Market in October. Owner Joe Lapan says Byrdland is continually managing the number of people allowed in-store, stocking up on hand sanitizer and allowing customers to make appointments beforehand, with additional appointment-based shopping on busier days. Lapan says they’ve stepped up their e-commerce by building out their own in-store online inventory, and have partnered with the distillery Cotton & Reed for a holiday bundle ($65). In addition to their popular selection of holiday vinyl, Lapan says their in-store 1947 Voice-O-Graph machine, which allows customers to record up to three minutes on a 45-inch vinyl record, has become a popular gift. Record yourself singing for relatives or send a sweet message for $15 for one-sided or $20 for a two-sided recording
Frankfurt, DE | Frankfurt record shop GOSU to close at the end of 2020: The beloved store has been rocked by the Covid-19 crisis. Beloved Frankfurt record shop GOSU is closing at the end of 2020. The news arrived yesterday via social media. “Selling records is by no means easy money,” reads the statement, “and since Covid has become a part of our everyday life, especially in the cultural sector, it has become even more tough.” The shop, which opened in the summer of 2016, has been a staple of the Frankfurt scene, stocking old and new vinyl, merch and more. Ahead of the closure, the team are offering 25 percent off everything in-store. The GOSU team will continue their label, which also launched in 2016. “The shop may close, but as a label we have further plans,” the statement reads. “Keep your eyes peeled on the known channels…” Read the statement in full.
New Orleans, LA | Peaches Records: A Wonderland of New Orleans Music: The Crescent City has it’s fare share of gems. Few are as precious as Peaches Records, which is located on Magazine street, inside a historic Woolworth’s diner from the 1940’s. Peaches is a wonderland of pop culture and New Orleans serendipity. It is also a slice of much needed soulful nostalgia in a world of digital music. Shirani Rea is the owner and says, “music is scientifically proven to heal mind body and soul and I also feel like it’s the food of the gods. It’s helped me be who I am.” Shirani and Peaches Records have been a staple in the community since 1975 and have moved around the city in various locations. Their location in Gentilly was where they gained a reputation as an incubator of New Orleans artists. Shirani and the family would hold record release parties, concerts and fundraisers to cultivate the next generations of music.
This $99 Storage Piece Was Urban Outfitters’s Cyber Monday Best-Seller: Vinyl Record Storage Shelf. It can live in the kitchen or living room. Cyber Monday is the day to buy all the little things you forgot you needed on Black Friday and Urban Outfitters was one of the many retailers that offered flash deals earlier this week. While you would assume shoppers used it as an opportunity to stock up on scented candles, punny mugs, and neon lights, they actually stuck to practical purchases. The brand’s top-seller on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday? The Vinyl Record Storage Shelf. The $99 find is as simple as its name suggests. It’s a basic iron metal frame with two shelves (one of which can hold a record player) and a rack at the bottom that keeps LPs standing upright. Many of the 264 reviewers who left comments about the piece praised its sturdiness as well as its size—it’s perfect for small apartments that lack built-ins. Read on for how to put the shelf to use, whether you’re a music buff or not.
