Pharr, TX | Made in the 956: Pharr Out Records, where past meets present: There’s a shop in Pharr where the past meets the present in perfect harmony. In a world dominated by digital music, there’s a place in Pharr where vinyl reigns supreme. “Something that we like to specialize in is Tejano music. I would say it competes with 80s rock and pop as being our bestsellers,” Pharr Out Records owner Isaac Herrera said. Pharr Out Records opened its doors in 2023. It began as a venture between four friends who share a passion for music. “Me, my husband Isaac, Zach and Rebecca, we all love music, different genres completely, but it kind of started off as collecting and one day there was this super cool collection available on Craigslist, and we were all like yeah why don’t we buy that and see what we can do with,” owner Jade Herrera said. Before opening shop, the four friends spent several years taking their collection on the road, selling records at pop-up events across the Rio Grande Valley and Texas. “In those years, in doing our pop-ups, we were essentially testing the waters. Is there an audience for records?” owner Zachary Myers said.
How TikTok Is Turning Record Stores Into Tourist Destinations: Mom ‘n’ pop shops are going viral and drawing visitors from around the globe. Ask anyone from Austin, Nashville, or even Cleveland, and they’ll tell you that music is a great reason to travel. It’s pretty common these days to plan a trip around catching a concert (just ask everyone who went to Europe around the Eras Tour dates), and it’s not even that outlandish to plan a trip around checking out venues or a hall of fame, but record stores have always seemed sort of ancillary to the tourism experience. Record-loving visitors to Los Angeles should definitely spend an afternoon at Amoeba Music, and if you’re in Seattle, it’s practically de rigueur to check out either Sub Pop’s 7th Avenue store or the label’s spot at the airport, but almost no one is planning a trip to those cities just for those stores. But that’s not true for spots like Macon, Georgia’s Vertigo Vinyl, Dover, New Jersey’s Factory Records, and Easton, Pennsylvania’s Spin Me Round Records, all of which have started to draw travelers to their relatively out-of-the-way locations purely because of how popular they’ve become on social media.
New Ulm, MN | Record store faces closure: Construction blocks traffic. Vintage & Vinyl, a record store that takes you through time, is struggling with business after construction on Center and German Street blocked traffic and parking to its location. “I cannot get people in it’s becoming a problem for me to get my regulars in or anyone else who just wants to be in here in general, I can’t. There’s nowhere to park, it’s kind of a mess” Vintage and Vinyl Owner Danielle Sowers said. …“We’ve turned had to turn away so much business not by choice just because of the confusion and lack of access. So people are calling like, ‘oh, with all the trucks on there it doesn’t look open we’ll stop back next week,’” James Sowers said. The Sowers said they attempted to work with the city of New Ulm over a month ago to work out a plan for the construction. “We were all under the impression that yes, there would be access to our store. And that’s not the case for whatever reason,” James Sowers said.
Cloverdale, BC | Cloverdale’s Elevated Music turns 4; record shop to hold big sale: Elevated Music Recordings to release first single. It’s been four years since Bill and Jenn Haggerty opened Elevated Music in Cloverdale. Over the years, the Haggertys have enjoyed much success. The store was able to find its feet as it opened at the height of COVID, Bill won a Clovie Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, they moved locations in 2023, and now Bill is releasing a single in 2024. He said he is nothing but thankful as he and Jenn reflect on the past few years ahead of Elevated’s four-year anniversary. “We are blown away at the entire journey,” Bill told the Cloverdale Reporter. “It has been an absolute dream come true to be doing anything music related and making a living. It’s just a real joy and a labour of true love that we do not take for granted.” Many businesses were smacked pretty hard over the past few years with COVID-related problems, rampant inflation, and skyrocketing rents. Yet Elevated has managed to navigate some of these once-in-a-lifetime problems. Just being himself has helped to create loyal customers that respect Elevated and come back to support them.
San Antonio, TX | San Antonio soul legend Sunny Ozuna holding meet and greet at Janie’s Record Shop: Ozuna will appear Saturday at the historic Tejano record store, which also is celebrating its 39th year in business this week. Sunny Ozuna, one of the most iconic musicians to come out of San Antonio’s West Side Sound, will hold a meet and greet at Janie’s Record Shop this Saturday. The “brown-eyed soul” singer will be on site from noon until 2 p.m. to interact with fans, sign autographs and promote the release of his new album with the Sunliners, La Estrella Que Brilla. Ozuna also will pose for photos and sing a selection of songs on the stage inside Janie’s. “It will be packed,” said Robert Esparza, the co-owner of Janie’s, and son of store founder Juanita “Janie” Esparza. Saturday’s meet and greet is a collaboration between Janie’s and Del Bravo Record Shop, where Ozuna will appear afterward from 3-5 p.m. Esparza says the stores are working together to generate excitement around the release of Ozuna’s new album, and increase CD sales for the Tejano legend.
Denton, TX | Faded Blue Vintage turns back time, hosts 80s-themed record swap event for vinyl enthusiasts: Eighties music rings through the room as people peruse the rows of records at Faded Blue Vintage during an after-hours record swap event. The owner and Denton resident Devin Drake greets people as they walk through the door, asking guests if they want any refreshments. Individuals brought records to swap, while some decided to just browse the music. Guests’ requests were played throughout the night and refreshments included beer, wine and soft drinks. “It’s a chance for vinyl lovers to come together and meet each other, exchange records, listen to music,” Drake said. “It’s just more of a social event [and to] just kind of create a community for the people in Denton.” Live music is an integral part of Drake’s life. He has worked at more than 1,200 concerts because he owned a concert merchandise company for 25 years, experiencing firsthand what it is like to be backstage for all his favorite bands and witnessing what putting on a show entails. “I think it just makes the day better,” Drake said. “I think music just actually can pretty much enhance anything you’re doing.”
Marquette, MI | Record show at Ore Dock: From noon Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 11, a four-day vinyl record show will be held on the second floor community room of Ore Dock Brewing Company, at 114 W. Spring Street in downtown Marquette. Thousands of new and used vinyl records, CDs, posters, cassettes, books, and t-shirts will be available. Talk with Jon and Geoff about trading old records and tapes for new favorites, or finding an unused media collection a new home. All are welcome at this free, all-ages event, presented by the NMU Vinyl Record Club. (Some ticketed event exceptions may apply).
Red Bank, NJ | The Red Bank Record Riot! Outdoors on Mechanic Street, Sat Sept 7th. Vinyl heaven! The Red Bank Record Riot is a massive outdoor market of vinyl records! Over 50 tables of LPs & CDs. Free admission and great music all day. On Mechanic Street in downtown Red Bank, 10 AM-5 PM. Attention Monmouth County vinyl fans! Come shop OUTDOORS—over 50 tables of LPs, CDs, 45s in the cool surroundings of downtown Red Bank! Dealers from all over NY/NJ/Philly area will convene on Mechanic Street for a vinyl record show. Meet new music friends, find that special LP that you’ve been looking for. All types of music: punk, funk, country, classical, blues rock, hip hop and more. FREE ADMISSION! Great family fun! Meet you in the dollar bins!
Kamala Harris Vinyl Meme Has A Generator Now: Last year, the Vice President went record shopping. In news footage posted on May 5, 2023, Kamala Harris can be seen emerging from Washington, DC’s HR Records and showing off purchases by Charles Mingus and Roy Ayers plus the Porgy And Bess soundtrack and calling Mingus “really one of the greatest jazz performers ever,” a gesture his camp appreciated. The media moment, which was arranged as a promo op for Small Business Week, came and went without much fuss, but it has been recirculated into online prominence lately now that Harris is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Last week, as the VP vinyl video went viral, screenshot of Harris presenting her copy of Mingus’ Let My Children Hear Music to the gathered press corps inevitably became a meme as people started editing other album covers into her hand.
