Author Archives: TVD HQ

Monmouth, UK | Grinning Soul Records open in Monmouth: Goldie Lookin’ Chain rapper Graham Taylor and novelist and broadcaster Gary Raymond are using a start-up loan from the Development Bank of Wales to share their love of vinyl records in Monmouth with the opening of Grinning Soul Records. As Monmouth’s only vinyl record shop, Grinning Soul Records can be found at White Swan Court on Priory Street. The micro loan from the Development Bank has been used to part-fund the kit out of the new shop and purchase stock. Having been close friends since their school days in Newport, Graham Taylor of Welsh rap group, Goldie Lookin’ Chain and BBC presenter and author Gary Raymond had a childhood ambition to open a record shop. Gary Raymond said: “Music fans come from all over the world to visit Monmouth as the home of Rockfield Studios, the legendary Welsh recording studios. Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded here yet there was no record shop in the town.”

Sussex, UK | Business secretary visits vinyl and bottle shop as he launches trade board: A secretary of state visited a Sussex town to launch a new initiative for small businesses. Jonathan Reynolds, secretary of state for business and trade, took a trip to Shoreham yesterday, March 13, visiting local traders. Mr Reynolds also unveiled the new Board of Trade yesterday, made up of CEOs and business leaders including Apprentice star and entrepreneur Mike Soutar, BT Group chief executive Allison Kirkby and Michelle Ovens CBE, the founder of Small Business Britain. Members of the board will strive to be “advocates and ambassadors for their sector, supporting businesses so they can trade more and grow.” During the trip, Mr Reynolds and members of the board visited a number of small businesses in Shoreham town centre, including Slipped Discs record shop, Fresh Cut Flowers and Palate, a specialist wine and beer shop.

Edinburgh, UK | Avoiding the rookie mistakes in Record Store Day stock up: There is nothing more frustrating than seeing people make the same mistakes over and over again, so last week’s episode of The Apprentice, pictured, was particularly annoying. Many of the candidates each year claim to be fans of the show and yet regularly go on to make the same mistakes that have happened in the previous series. Even if they haven’t particularly watched the programme before you would think that once they knew they were going to be on they would swat up on the tasks which are generally the same in each series. …I’m starting to get the same feeling as we are told the numbers we will receive for Record Store Day releases. There are always some cutbacks on some of the bigger titles and our aim is always to try to make sure that we at least have all the big releases for most if not all the day, as we don’t want to return to the bad old days when we would spend most of the day disappointing people that we didn’t have what they wanted.

Toronto, CA | The history of the iconic Sam the Record Man in Toronto: When it comes to legendary Toronto retail landmarks, few could truly rival the cultural significance of Sam the Record Man, where stepping into the store felt like you were entering the heart of the world’s vast musical catalog, and the knowledgeable staff there could effortlessly find you any record—no matter how obscure—with just a few hums of a tune.A staple of the city’s music scene for half a century, the iconic record store became much more than just a regular place to buy albums, it became a gathering spot, a symbol, and eventually, an institution, with its towering neon sign of two spinning discs above Yonge Street. Born in Toronto in 1920, Sam Sniderman’s journey into the world of music retail began in 1937, when he started selling records in his brother Sidney’s College Street store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service. The two brothers convinced the family to designate a corner of the store for records under the name “Sniderman’s Music Hall,” and by 1959, the business was booming.

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Fort Myers, FL | Record store, music venue Beach Records to close after 6 years: Beach Records, a record store doubling as a music venue in Fort Myers, is closing 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. Bourgeois sees this as more of a sabbatical than a closure. However, this location, 15560 McGregor Blvd., Unit 8, which has been active since 2019, will close for good. Bourgeois was going to close down temporarily starting in June or July, but his landlord sought to raise the rent by 30% and have him sign a three-year lease, WINK News reports.

Miami, FL | Sweat Records, Miami’s beloved vinyl shop, celebrates 20 years: When Lolo Reskin opened Sweat Records in 2005, she had “no long-term plans” for the vinyl shop. She was 22 years old; her best friend and cofounder, 24. “We just wanted to build this cool thing together because we loved music and we loved our city,” she said. Why it matters: Twenty years later, the Little Haiti shop is central to the community, having grown into a local hub and safe space for residents and tourists alike. Fittingly, ahead of its 20th anniversary Wednesday, Miami-Dade County declared March 12 to be “Sweat Records Day.” Flashback: The independent shop’s first location opened in Edgewater, less than a year before Hurricane Wilma hit Miami. The storm destroyed the building, forcing Reskin to relocate to a temporary space behind the Churchill’s Pub—”a complete landmark” at the time, Reskin told Axios.

Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis’ Outta Wax is keeping vinyl alive and well: Lovers of old-school records in the Twin Cities, listen up: you can get a record made in your own backyard. Alex Stillman is a record presser with Outta Wax. The small business got its start during COVID when Stillman’s business partner, Sara Pette, decided to give record-pressing a spin. “My job at the time was non-existent because of COVID, so I sort of freaked out and wanted to start another business,” Pette said. She also saw a need in the Twin Cities. “When you are an independent artist with no label, it’s really hard to get your foot in the door to get stuff made like this,” Pette said. So, they got their hands on antique lathe machines which grooves music into plastic discs. They also got their hands on a more modern set-up. The record-pressing process begins with a machine called the extruder, which turns plastic into a pre-mold that looks like a hockey puck.

Southampton, UK | HotWax rock record store to celebrate album: An alternative trio rocked a record store in Southampton Wednesday night in a performance to promote their debut album. HotWax performed an in-store gig at Vinilo Record Store in Queensway to celebrate the release of their first album Hot Shock, which was released March 7. The record reached number nine in the mid-week album chart and the band spoke to fans and signed copies after the performance. The alternative rock band members of HotWax are vocalist and guitarist Tallulah Sim-Savage, bassist Lola Sam and Alfie Sayers on drums. When the album was released, the band posted on social media: “After a crazed adrenaline filled year of touring, writing and recording our debut album ‘Hot Shock’ is here. “We’re feeling extremely overwhelmed and proud, from our first gig together nearly 8 years ago to now having our first album out in the world made with the most incredible people feels surreal and we can’t quite believe it.”

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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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