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. And by discouraging the casual customer, that just leaves the serious and curious.
Melbourne, AU | The best record stores in Melbourne: Whether you’re a veteran crate digger, a mild enthusiast or a total newbie, these are the best stores for record-loving musos. Nothing beats going analog and hearing the warm crackle and pop of spinning vinyl. In the wake of the digital music revolution, bricks-and-mortar record stores took a brutal hit, but luckily vinyl has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, with sales on the rise. Is it of any surprise? Considering the ‘TikTokification’ of music and the fact everything is now downloadable, heading to a store and sifting through black-wax gems feels somewhat ritualistic. Plus, chatting to record shop owners and picking their brains is like encountering a bastion of infinite musical knowledge. Looking for something that is a blend of David Bowie, Afro-punk and folktronica? They’ve got just the LP. So if you’re a seasoned crate digger looking for an obscure bootleg or just want to pick up your favourite album now that it has been remastered, check out the best record stores in Melbourne.
Columbus, GA | Birds of a Feather: Musicians flock to Blue Canary Records. What took some time to get off the ground has now become a local sensation. When Blue Canary Records owner Brian Cook first opened his Uptown shop’s back room as a music venue, he had to ask local bands and artists to play. Now, the small venue’s performing calendar almost fills itself. Cook says it’s been mostly a word of mouth situation. “A lot of bands and a lot of musicians now know of the record store and the back room and the kind of vibe that we are we’re putting out here,” Cook said. “It’s become kind of talk of the town a little bit.” The owner, who opened his record shop – the only one of its kind in Columbus – in Aug. 2023, admitted it’s not uncommon for him to get a call from a local act asking, “Hey, when can we get on the calendar?” As of now, that wait looks like at least a couple of months. The Blue Canary booking log is currently filled through August and into September. Part of that may be due to the crowd Cook’s shop caters toward.
Alhambra, CA | Alhambra’s Vinyl Shop: Offering ‘oldies’ to the new classics. Being a business owner in Alhambra is a full circle experience for Angelle Laigo. She grew up here, took piano lessons in this neighborhood at Pedrini Music when she was a kid and still sings in the choir at her local church. Her father started a community newspaper here after immigrating to the U.S. from the Philippines. He called it Street News. And here, on Main Street, is Str33t Records — Laigo’s homage to her father’s newspaper, community and her love of vinyl (Fun fact: the full name of the shop’s logo is Str33t Records ⅓, which is a nod to the revolutions per minute that records spin). “Str33t Records is the continuing legacy… of my family,” she says. “It’s a family passion project. I really couldn’t have done this without my entire family.” Str33t Records is right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Alhambra’s Main Street, snuggled between restaurants, boutiques, cafes and entertainment. The standing chalkboard sign at the front of the shop is an invitation to check out the music inside.
Knoxville, TN | McKay’s union leader: Road trip showed why Knoxville employees need a labor contract. The McKay’s 50th anniversary road trip that challenged fans of the used book and record store to visit all five locations on July 9 − and sent some to the hospital with heat-related illness − was a reminder to union members in Knoxville of why they are bargaining a contract. “People were unprepared for exactly what we were even going to be doing that day,” Aaron Hege, a union leader who has worked at McKay’s for 27 years, told Knox News. “(McKay’s owners) told us very little, other than it was happening.” McKay’s, which was founded in North Carolina in 1974 and has been in Knoxville since 1985, has attracted a devoted fan base with a menagerie of inexpensive used items, from anime to movies to collectibles. …Fans showed up by the thousands for the road trip on the promise of $800 of store credit if they made it to all McKay’s locations. Many say they got the full credit even if they didn’t finish the trip, as McKay’s staff members were overwhelmed by crowds standing in line for hours.
Washington, DC | A Combination Record Store and Bike Shop Is Opening in Adams Morgan: Two former pop-ups are joining forces in the old City Bikes DC space. Bike shop Upshift Workshop and record seller Tiny Vinyl Shop have floated around town as pop-ups, but they will share a permanent home together in Adams Morgan, offering vinyl and bikes under one roof. The stores are opening on Friday, July 19 in the former City Bikes DC space. Upshift owner Leah Fantle and Tiny Vinyl shop owner Ty Cumbie met through mutual friends. Fantle had been looking for a brick-and-mortar location for her mobile bike repair and education service. When the Adams Morgan storefront went on sale just under two months ago, she jumped at the chance. Meanwhile, Ty Cumbie, who has been selling a curated collection of records in DC for over five years, was also interested in the property. Once they were introduced to each other, it seemed like a fitting partnership.
Hollywood, CA | Andaz brings vinyl bar to West Hollywood: Andaz West Hollywood, nestled along the legendary Sunset Strip, is poised to debut Kaye Records at Riot House, an innovative vinyl bar concept, on July 26. The hotel boasts a storied musical legacy as one of the first and most influential hotels on the Sunset Strip, having hosted some of the most iconic rock and roll stars over the years. Affectionately known as the “Riot House” during the 1970s, its distinguished guest list included legendary acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Who and Duran Duran. Now, Kaye Records at Riot House beckons music enthusiasts to step into the hallowed footsteps of the immortal rock gods, offering a gateway to relive the magic of Los Angeles’ legendary Sunset Strip.
Silver Spring, MD | ‘Just for the Record – A Vinyl Day’ Music Festival Featuring DJ Johnny Juice Takes Place in August: Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will host its annual “Just for the Record–A Vinyl Day” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library, located at 900 Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring. This family-friendly event will feature popular DJs from around the country, including keynote speaker DJ Johnny Juice. “Music connects people across diverse cultures and generations in a special way,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Events like ‘Vinyl Day’ let us explore the art of music-making, dive into DJ culture, appreciate the timeless magic of vinyl records and gain an understanding of the wonderful offerings available in our County libraries. Come join the music-related activities for all ages at the Silver Spring library on August 10.”
El Paso, TX | El Paso’s Café con Leche blends old vinyl charm with fresh coffee aromas: An El Paso shop has captured the attention of locals and visitors alike with its distinctive charm. Combining the smell of freshly brewed coffee with the nostalgic hum of old vinyl records, this café offers a truly unique experience for all senses. Julio Mena is the owner of Cafe con Leche. “I was in music for 20 years professionally,” said Mena. “And I decided to pursue something else.” Mena said he wanted to spend more time with his son so he decided to open up a coffee shop. “I decided to go on my own. I started off with a tricycle,” Mena said. “This place is very unique, you don’t find it anywhere,” said Jimena Esqueda Assistant regional manager. Photojournalist Christopher Hernandez tells us all about it. Cafe con Leche is located at 2430 Wyoming Ave.
