Portland, OR | Portland Record Stores: Spend the day exploring the stacks at these local record stores. Every day is Record Store Day in Portland, where vintage audio hi-fi systems and turntables are commonplace and vinyl record shops line neighborhood streets. Whether it’s gift-giving season or time to build out your collection, you’ll find everything from rare imports to the latest pop sensation at one of these local record stores. Music Millennium: Portland’s oldest music store, Music Millennium, opened in 1969 with a mission to stock the kind of underground tunes absent from the racks of mainstream department stores of the era. To the delight of audiophiles, not much has changed. Multiple rooms stash untold tuneful treasures, from bargain bins of used CDs and vinyl to collector rarities (a first pressing of Led Zeppelin I sold here for $1,000). Looking for live music? Touring bands often drop by the shop for free shows…
Yorkshire, UK | Where to buy records in Yorkshire? Here are the best places to shop independent and enjoy music: With a debate in the US about whether there has been a decline in vinyl record sales, we take a look closer to home where the Office for National Statistics reports a “resurgence in popularity” in vinyl records despite the domination of streaming platforms. While some stores have closed in recent times, we take a look at some of the vinyl record stores which are still booming in Yorkshire. Wah Wah Records, Wakefield: Alan Nutton, the owner of Wah Wah Records said he saw a resurgence of vinyl sales following lockdown. Alan, who relocated from Brook St to a bigger store on Cross St in Wakefield city centre in 2022, said: “Record sales have been the same in the last few years after a spike but they’ve not dropped. We’ve got a lot of regular customers who love vinyl…”
Studio City, CA | Licorice Pizza serves nostalgia in Studio City: If you grew up in Southern California in the 1970s and 1980s, there’s a good chance you spent time at a record store called Licorice Pizza. At its peak, the chain had 34 locations, until it was sold in the 1980s. But now, Licorice Pizza is being revived by music producer Kerry Brown. Brown said he sees vinyl records as “historical document[s].” He grew up going to a Licorice Pizza location in Orange County. “I don’t even know why those few years when I was hanging out at Licorice Pizza are some of the most vivid upfront memories still to this day. There are tones and textures of who I am today, and my DNA comes out of that store at 20 in Orange,” he shared. Brown found success in the 1990s as part of the Smashing Pumpkins. Since that time, streaming and digital albums have largely replaced physical media. Music journalist Lyndsey Parker talked about a recent rise in popularity of vinyls.
UK | The record stores that shaped Black music in Britain: A new documentary and podcast series reveals how independent record stores championing Black music became cultural hubs from the 1950s onward. A Midlands-based creative arts collective has launched an ambitious project highlighting the profound cultural impact of independent record stores that championed Black music across the UK from the 1950s to today. Leicester’s 2Funky Arts has released The Record Store & Black Music, A UK History – a documentary and podcast series that unearths personal stories and hidden histories that reflect the role of these record stores as cultural havens and powerful sites of community resilience. Through a mix of oral histories, film, audio, and photographic archives, the series offers a deep dive into how these stores fostered new music movements and subcultures, while also shaping society’s relationship with Black music.
Evanston, IL | A college student’s guide to Evanston’s second-hand shops: Gen Z is rapidly contributing to the U.S. recommerce market by shopping for trendy and affordable items at second-hand stores. Evanston has much to offer for students and residents looking for thrifted goods. The rise of thrifting and recommerce is nothing new. The first thrift store opened under The Salvation Army in 1897 and the recommerce industry has only grown since, including in Evanston. For all the vintage junkies seeking everything from used books and records, to quirky trinkets and consignment steals, The Daily visited some of the best second-hand spots in Evanston. Animal Records: The vibrancy of Animal Records can be spotted even from outside the shop. Selling both new and used vinyl records, its pink and yellow walls are almost completely covered in records by various artists, 
Bordentown Township, NJ | Bordentown Township Vinyl Record Pressing Plant Lauded by City Green Team for Sustainability Efforts: The Bordentown City Green Team recently toured a unique local business to highlight the company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Green Team members toured Independent Record Pressing (IRP), a vinyl record pressing plant located on Bordentown-Hedding Road in Bordentown Township, on October 21 to highlight the company’s Climate Neutral certification, a globally recognized standard for carbon accountability. IRP even has an Environmental Sustainability Committee, made up of General Manager Sal Roccanova, Accountant Kim Gosselin, Human Resources Manager Lynsey O’Brien and Operations Manager Chris Long. IRP was founded in 2015 with a vision to support and press records 
Omagh, IE | Sound and Vision—Bringing Small-Town Stories to the Big Screen: Faye Blaylock looks at how Irish musician Mark McCausland’s record store went from inspiring a newspaper column to being immortalised in feature film, The Spin. Mark McCausland is one half of ‘alt-folk geniuses’ * The Lost Brothers. Releasing music under the moniker McKowski, he is dubbed the ‘Sonic Wanderer of Omagh’ and has always crafted his own unique narrative. However this time his art form of choice is cinematic. Back in 2016, Mark opened a record store, Boneyard Records in his hometown of Omagh. It was there, between tours, that he spent his time buried among the vinyl treasures, writing music and observing the details of small-town life. Drawn to Storytelling: He says, “It can sometimes be a mind-numbing existence in a small town. I probably opened the record shop to make it more bearable. I felt like I had to create a whole new world in my imagination to help pass the time—an Omagh record shop 
Croydon, UK | Croydon’s lost record store that was Europe’s biggest and a favourite with London celebs: The shop had 3 storeys and included a gig venue and arcade games. Croydon locals may remember a time when the town boasted an impressive 13 music shops. These days, with most people getting their music online or from retail giants like HMV, Croydon’s record shops have all but disappeared. But taking a look – or listen – down memory lane, and you might remember BEANOS, a legendary Croydon record store. David Lashmar, the man behind the icon that was BEANOS, shares that even 17 years after closing down and selling his collection, he’s still contacted daily by people eager to share their memories. “Our first shop in Croydon was called Bell Hill Cassettes,” David remembers. “Cassettes were really massive in the early 1970s. It was a real revolution and seen as an indestructible medium believe it or not, while records jumped and crackled. I thought the cassette would be here forever—
San Antonio, TX | You’re one of the family at Del Bravo: San Antonio, a city known for its rich history and landmarks, is also home to an iconic location on the West side of town. Opened in 1966, Del Bravo Record Shop is a family-owned store with a beautiful exterior and festive decor alongside endless racks of CDs, vinyl records and cassette tapes. The history of this business starts with Salome Gutierrez, the father of Iva Gutierrez who runs the front of the shop nearly full-time, and his passion for creating and selling music. He founded the independent record shop and composed his own songs at the same time, working with Grammy winners and recording artists. His work has been passed down to the next generation and is still thriving for all to visit. While Tejano music might be what Del Bravo originated with, they sell a variety of genres—including the latest pop and rap. With such a wide range of music filling the store, it is impossible to not find 
NJ | DJ Alex Kaynes Record Store Raid II: Roamin’ around New Jersey: So this Record Store Raid did not happen all in one day as both my previous treks through North Carolina and California did. My New Jersey romp happened over a few weeks as it is closer to home, which affords me more time. For those who missed the first Record Store Raid: I am a professional DJ and record collector for nearly 50 years, so it’s safe to say I have 
Springfield, IL | Popular record store opens second location in Springfield: Brat summer is over, but Dumb Records fall is in full swing. Expanding on the success Record Store Day has had between community and business downtown, Dumb Records is expanding to a second location on the city’s west side. Dumber Records opened last week inside the White Oaks Mall. The store is on the first floor between Off the Wall and across from Kay Jewelers. The second record store still sells all the latest records and merchandise fans of the indie business love but has a chiller atmosphere to the rock ‘n’ roll stage of the main location. Brian Galecki, who co-owns Dumb Records at 418 E. Monroe St., felt confident in opening a second location 
Takoma Park, MD | Joint Custody Opens in Takoma: Rare Records, Vintage Clothing and More. Joint Custody, a vinyl record store, vintage clothing shop, and “freak emporium,” has opened its second D.C. location at 6918 4th St. NW in Takoma, just up the street from the incoming Peach Cobbler Factory and the newly opened Pynk Saffron Spice Boutique. While the shop features a substantial selection of punk, R&B, and local artists, its standout offerings, according to Washingtonian Magazine, include rare punk zines and a wide array of vintage concert tour T-shirts. “Joint Custody is filled with 
Oklahoma City, OK | Your Guide to Oklahoma City’s Record Stores: Oklahoma City’s record stores offer a unique experience—a blend of community and discovery that sets them apart. More than just shops, they’re gathering places for music lovers to connect, share their passion for rare finds and build one-of-a-kind collections. From classic vinyl albums to the latest releases, you’ll find a diverse selection for every taste in the heart of OKC. Get ready to explore new music, join a community of passionate collectors and maybe even trade in some old favorites for a fresh new sound. Did you know? You can trade or sell your records at any of these shops. It’s a great way to 
Nashville, TN | Nashville’s Dead End Records specializes in metal, punk vinyl: A new record shop in the Germantown neighborhood is turning the volume up to 11 on Nashville’s vinyl scene. Why it matters: Dead End Records specializes in vinyl albums by metal, punk and loud rock bands. 
Madison, WI | Indie Record Store Profile: Strictly Discs in Madison, Wisconsin: The shop’s new owner, a former customer who acquired the business last fall, discusses opening a second storefront, his plans to supercharge growth via e-commerce and more. While attending the University of Madison-Wisconsin as a journalism and marketing major from 2003-2006, Rick Stoner fondly remembers roaming the aisles of Strictly Discs—the Monroe Street record store he acquired from longtime owners Ron and Angie Roloff last fall—just as the world was on the cusp of the digital music explosion. …Buying the beloved local business, which Ron opened in 1988 as a single-level, 800-square-foot shop…was a full circle moment for Stoner—albeit not one he actively sought out. “I was not looking for a record store,” he says. “I was looking for a business at a certain price point. And the fact that I saw this listing was 
New York, NY | Turning the tables: The curious story of how Catalyst Records became a Lower East Side hit. …Far from being a know-it-all, Guarinello, a musician himself, welcomes customers who tell him about artists he’s never heard of. He grew up in the CD era but had the benefit of his boomer parents’ LP collection. “My dad had everything that Pink Floyd ever made, including cool bootlegs of live shows,” he recalls. “My mom had the David Peel and the Lower East Side record, which I got a kick out of as a teenager. They had a great collection—it saved me a bunch of money.” “I like to think of the shop as a village green for creative artists,” he adds. “I want it to be a space where you can come and hang out. I sell as much local vinyl as I can, the prices are fair and I have 
UK | Vinyl to return to WH Smith stores for first time for more than 30 years: High street retailer WH Smith is bringing back vinyl records for the first time for more than 30 years across a raft of stores nationwide. The chain said it will stock vinyl in 80 high street shops as it looks to capitalise on its surging popularity among a new generation of music fans. Vinyl sales have jumped in recent years as the format has come back in fashion, helped by new releases by artists such as Taylor Swift, who recently announced that her 11th studio album – The Tortured Poets Department – will be made available on vinyl, while Oasis have also re-issued The Masterplan on vinyl. …Emma Smyth, commercial director of WH Smith’s high street operations, said: “I’m sure there are many customers out there who remember spending hours in record shops browsing the latest vinyl LPs and the artistic record covers. “To me it’s no surprise that vinyl is growing in popularity again, and we are very excited to be 
Lafayette, IN | 4 one of a kind places to buy vinyl records: Vinyl records aren’t extinct. In fact, this form of listening to music has been revived throughout the past decade and is still increasing in popularity. I started to appreciate and collect vinyl records within the past few years after seeing my dad’s old collection. And I noticed the Greater Lafayette area is unique compared to other cities because it has several places to peruse, compared to “just the one.” Because of the several stores in the area, 
Louisville, KY | ‘A bigger and better record store’: Better Days West merging with East End location. Sitting inside Better Days West, surrounded by boxes, bags and shelves packed with records and other merchandise to be moved to the store’s East End counterpart, the record store’s owner, Ben Jones, was overjoyed about prospect of operating a bigger and better store. …Better Days West, which spent more than 35 years in the Parkland neighborhood at its 2600 W. Broadway storefront, is merging with Better Days East. The store’s last official day open was Sept. 20. Since then, Jones and his team have been working to move more than 30,000 pieces of merchandise—including records, CDs, sound equipment and more—to Better Days East at 921 Barret Ave. Better Days West, which spent more than 35 years in the Parkland neighborhood at its 2600 W. Broadway storefront, is merging with Better Days East. The East End location, 
Evanston, IL | In the groove: Vintage Vinyl marks its 45th year as a haven for audiophiles: In September, the City of Evanston sponsored a reception for the Legacy Business Alliance to honor 39 longtime businesses for their contributions to the community. Vintage Vinyl, the small but mighty record shop that’s been operating for decades, should have been invited to the party. Steve Kay, the owner of Vintage Vinyl, opened the shop in 1979. The store has been in the same location, 925 Davis St., for 45 years, which is a milestone worthy of celebration. This part of Evanston seems to spawn long-lived retailers — two other legacy businesses, Bennison’s Bakery and Lemoi Hardware, are located across the street from Vintage Vinyl. Kay has parlayed his love of music and vinyl records, from the 1950s to the present, into a business that has stood the test of time. “I received my first 45 rpm record and a record player from my aunt when I was 5 years old, and I have been playing and listening to music and collecting records 
Farsley, UK | Farsley record store triples in size as it opens in new shop: Independent Farsley record shop Record Plant will officially reopen their highly popular store on Saturday, October 19 in a new, much larger space at Sunny Bank Mills. The shop originally opened at a smaller building at Sunny Bank in October 2023, and was the brainchild of four incredibly passionate record collectors and genuine music enthusiasts in Jaimie Styan, John Paul, Col Griffiths and Choque Hosein. Having worked incredibly hard over the summer to facilitate the move, bosses will officially open Record Plant’s doors again later this week, celebrating its first anniversary by tripling in size within a year. Originally occupying a small yet lovingly curated space in Sunny Bank Mills behind local venue The Old Woollen, Record Plant initially began selling a varied range of new LPs, second hand vinyl, memorabilia and their beloved “Pop Tat.” Quickly outgrowing the space, the team soon acknowledged the need for expansion to allow for increased stock and more workspace, along with the desire to provide 
St. Louis, MO | Kismet Records brings local music to Dutchtown with concerts at The Wink! Annex. The creative duo behind Kismet Creative Center welcomes local bands to a new stage in South City. When Kismet Creative Center closed its doors in 2018, St. Louis lost a quality record store and consignment shop that also hosted hundreds of community events and concerts during its four years in the Cherokee Street neighborhood. Now, the duo of Tom Maher and Sonia Dae Slankard, who co-owned the space, carry that experience forward with Kismet Records (3302 Meramec), now open in Dutchtown. “Kismet was where art and music intersected. We were holding space. As a store it was for collectors, and as a venue it was for musicians,” Maher says. 
Mercer Island, WA | Rocking out at MI’s new Volver Records: Owner Packer is a long-time record collector. At first, the task seemed simple. But then it got tougher as John Packer literally spun the vinyl in his mind while attempting to reveal his top-three desert island albums. That’s the way of the ardent record collector, and while accessing a dual role of newly-minted shop owner, in Packer’s case. After glancing around his new Mercer Island store, Volver Records, Packer nailed down his trio of favorites (which may change at any instant): Tatsuro Yamashita’s “Ride on Time,” U2’s “Achtung Baby” and Mötley Crüe’s “Shout at the Devil.” Packer gushed that side A of Yamashita’s album is especially stellar, the U2 record is his all-time fave and the Crüe’s metal ripper forever changed his life upon first spin at age 12. Those three albums sit in vastly different areas of the music spectrum and represent Packer’s taste pretty well, he said. Packer, now 32, will bring those sounds—plus copious others—to Islanders when he 
Dallas, TX | Josey Records To Mark 10 Years in Business With Day-Long Celebration: One of the country’s largest independent record stores turns 10 on Oct. 19. Waric Cameron can always spot the first-time visitors to Josey Records. They walk into the now-more-than-25,000-square-foot space located a stone’s throw from the dull, persistent roar of Interstate 635, take a few steps, and stop. “Normally, I’m in the back office,” Cameron says. “But there are times where I’m in the front, and I’m doing something, I’ll see people come in the front door. … They literally take three steps in, stop, their eyes go wide. They look around — left, right. They’re not quite sure where to go. They’re in awe. ‘Where do I start?’ “If I’m up there [in front], I always kind of go, ‘Hey, is this your first time?’ And, you know, nine times out of 10, yeah, it is.” It’s a scene that has probably 
Forest Park, IL | Old School Records survives at the last minute: But streaming services’ threat to music stores remains. For a brief time this fall, a sign reading “lost my lease” was posted outside of Old School Records, a Forest Park staple that has been in business for more than 21 years. Peter Gianakopoulos, the owner, put up the sign when he fell behind on his rent for the months of August and September after a “very tough year” for the store. The store managed to survive, and the sign has since been removed from the facade of Old School Records. But that, Gianakopoulos said, doesn’t change the challenges that record stores are facing locally and indeed across the world. He said that music streaming services is the main culprit. During his more than two decades as a business owner, Gianakopoulos has noticed many ups and downs in the business of selling records. …In spite of this adversity, Gianakopoulos said, record stores have persevered thanks to dedicated customers, a revival of vinyl in popular cultures and, perhaps most notably, the 
Kelowna, BC | A decade living a childhood dream: Vernon record store owner calls it a day: Growing up as a child in the 1960s, Kelvin Forgo’s home was full of music. His mother was a huge Elvis fan and the house echoed with 1950s rock and roll, played on 7-inch records, on what he calls a “kick-ass” tube console stereo. …Fast forward 40 years and Forgo found himself working part-time in a used record in Vernon, playing vinyl and trying to wind down from his full-time job as an armed security van driver. It was only when the shop’s owner decided to pull the plug on the business that Forgo’s brother gave him some advice. “He bought a little… sprint race car. And he says, ‘Let’s go sprint car racing, and you can own a record shop,'” Forgo said. “And I’m like, what? Where did this come from… (but) that is what ended up happening.” While owning a record store had been a fantasy in the back of his mind since childhood, both brothers—now in their 50s—decided to 
Los Angeles, CA | Revival of L.A. record store Licorice Pizza serves a slice of vinyl nostalgia: As a teen growing up in Orange County in the early ‘80s, Kerry Brown’s immediate career goal was simple. He wanted to work at his favorite record store, Licorice Pizza. Years later, Brown would embark on life as a musician and busy producer-engineer, working on records by the Smashing Pumpkins, Afghan Whigs, Miley Cyrus and his own indie rock band Catherine, but 
Leeds, UK | Leeds vinyl store Released Records re-opens in Hyde Park Book Club: The shop moved out of its original Corn Exchange location last year due to rising rent and service charges. Leeds vinyl shop Released Records, formerly based in the city’s Corn Exchange, has re-opened permanently at local venue Hyde Park Book Club. Since October 6th, the record store has had a selection of genre-spanning £2 LPs and 12-inch records on sale at the new location. (Hyde Park doesn’t presently have the space for Released to show its full collection). Released plans to start hosting a monthly event where guest DJs play a selection of records for sale, with more partnerships and a record fair TBA. First opened in 2017, Released moved out of the Corn Exchange last year due to 
Makati, PH | One Stop Record Fair spins into September with vinyl and art: Already feeling the cold breeze of “-ber” months? The quarterly music event “One Stop Record Fair 2024: Vinyl x Art” held at Ayala Malls The 30th on September 28 just made the air warmer with the rich sound that only vinyl can offer. From nostalgic collectors to exploring newbies, this gathering attracted music enthusiasts of all ages, scouring a treasure trove of endless music. Sari Osorio, the event organizer, said the occasion went well as usual with collectors flocking Ayala Malls The 30th as early as 10 in the morning. “We kicked off ‘ber’ months by giving them the best and rare vinyl from our featured sellers,” Osorio said. With 30 vinyl vendors offering an impressive array of records across genres, such as rock, jazz, soul, electronic and pop. Vinyl enthusiasts digged through crates filled with rare finds, limited editions and classics that 
Middletown, CT | WESU FM Brings Music Lovers Together at Fall Record Fair: I find it extremely hard to control myself around large amounts of vinyl records. It’s something about the moment of seeing a record I love, knowing it could be mine to take home and listen to on loudspeakers in the clearest quality possible, to stare at and read and play and replay, to scan for little differences from the version I may know from streaming (happens more than you’d think)…
Evanston, IL | New old record store opens downtown: “I’m a Believer.” The sounds of that mid-1960s hit from The Monkees fill the store. But the music is not coming through Spotify, or Apple Music, or any of them newfangled purveyors of pop. Rather, it’s playing the way it was intended … back when Mickey Dolenz and colleagues laid down the tracks in 1966 … on a 33 1/3 rpm record, spinning on a phonograph. “The Monkees Greatest Hits” is one of about 40,000 records (yes, 40,000) that Evanstonian Greg Allen has collected over the years, records which Allen plans to make available at his new shop, Animal Records, which just opened at 624 Grove St. “I always wanted to open a record store,” Allen says, “but like everyone else, 
El Cerrito, CA | Historic Bay Area record store has to pony up millions to stay in business: SFGATE contributor Jessica Lipsky reports on Down Home Music’s efforts to stay in its El Cerrito location. Situated along a mixed-use stretch of restaurants, groceries, housing and bars in El Cerrito, the building at 10341 San Pablo Ave. is something of a museum. Or museums, to be more precise. The two-room storefront houses the legendary Down Home Music, a 48-year-old record store dedicated to the sale and preservation of global roots music in its many forms. Upstairs is Les Blank Films, while an annexed home attached to the building is the site of the Arhoolie Foundation and its archive. The unassuming beige facade may not catch the eye of a driver speeding down San Pablo, but the building is an essential archive of art and cultural history. As of Oct. 11, 
