Jamaica Plain, MA | Deep Thoughts Record Store Closing and Moving West: After 11 years of being based in Jamaica Plain, the proprietors of Deep Thoughts decided that it’s in their best interest to close the store, and move west in the state to where they reside. In a Facebook post, the owners, Nick and Alaina, explained that it just made sense for them to move closer to home into a nice new space. And they’re moving out later this month. “Our last day open in Boston will be Sunday September 29th. The next day we will begin the process of relocating directly into our new storefront at 5 Market Street in Northampton, right next to a cafe (the Roost), vintage shops, and a used bookseller. It’s a beautiful space with hardwood floors, large windows, exposed brick, and soon… Deep Thoughts Record Shop! We are beyond psyched to serve the Valley!” said the Facebook post.
St. Petersburg, FL | Worlds Largest Record Store, Bananas Records sets world record: Bananas Music, an American record store operates two locations in St. Petersburg, Florida; the 6,500-square-foot warehouse, located at 2226 16th Avenue North, carrying over 3 million records, sets the world record for being the World’s Largest Record Store, according to the World Record Academy. “If you’re an avid music lover who appreciates nostalgia, visiting Bananas Records in St. Pete is in order. What’s been dubbed the world’s largest vinyl records collection, owner Michelle Allen and her husband Doug have been in business for almost 45 years,” the Only In Florida says. “Bananas Records is said to be the largest vinyl retailer in the world, with more than three million records within the collection. There are two locations to choose from—the 7,000-square-foot store and the 11,000-square-foot warehouse, both within the St. Petersburg area.
London, UK | Black Lacquer To Launch September 20th: A new subterranean cocktail bar designed for music lovers is opening its doors, focussing on smooth cocktails and sounds. Nestled under the city’s bustling streets within the brand-new Hyde London City hotel, Black Lacquer pays homage to the Hyde brand’s origins on the LA club scene, with a late night venue specialising in slick and playful drinks and endless vinyl. This new creative hangout will feature vinyl-forward music programming—enlisting the best and most dynamic of the city’s music scene for DJ performances. Special monthly takeovers from eclectic music collectives from across the city will showcase and uplift emerging talent. The ever-changing soundtrack is hand-selected each night from an expertly-curated collection of vinyl records.
Chula Vista, CA | Tender Hooligan sells food as an excuse to be around records: Chula Vista listening bar offers a place to be conspicuously alone with music. That’s what I get for putting style over substance. I wanted to check out Tender Hooligan, the listening bar that recently opened on Chula Vista’s Third Avenue. And because the place advertises a food menu, I thought I could get away with making it a food story. “What’s a listening bar?” you might ask. And if you do, then you’re probably old enough to remember a time when there were still these public places to listen to music, called record shops. …In the case of Tender Hooligan, that means filling a space partly with bins full of vinyl records for sale, partly with a cafe and cheap food counter, and—since we’re already playing with archaic concepts—with a pair of British style, red phone booths outfitted with small record players.
Penticton, BC | Okanagan Vinyl Festival ready to spin in Penticton: Join the love of analog music at the 11th annual Peach City Community Radio Okanagan Vinyl Festival. CFUZ 92.9 FM will be hosting the event Sept. 22 at the Okanagan College Penticton campus, and will feature vendors from all over the province and beyond offering record and audio gear. Vinyl collectors and music lovers will have over 40 tables of wares to explore. “We’re really excited to celebrate our eleventh Vinyl Fest,” said Peach City Radio president Claire Thompson in a press release. “It is a great event with a passionate following. Last year we made the move to the Penticton campus of Okanagan College, and we received a lot of positive feedback from vendors and attendees. We are thrilled to be back there again this year.”
Brooklyn, NY | Brooklyn Flea Record Fair: 2024 fall date and vendor lineup: The fall edition of the Brooklyn Flea Record Fair happens this Saturday, September 21 at Smorgasburg Williamsburg inside Marsha P. Johnson State Park (90 Kent Ave. Brooklyn). This year’s Flea runs 11 AM—6 PM and is free to attend. As usual, this year’s lineup includes a mix of tables from indie labels (4AD, Partisan, Matador, Temporary Residence Ltd, Captured Tracks, Fire Talk, Mute, Sacred Bones, Warp, more), local independent record stores (Human Head, Captured Record Shop, Second Hand Records and Vinyl Veritas) and second hand vendors. This year’s new vendors include Gowanus Audio (who have DIY audio classes), record store 690 Woodward Garage, and the lathe cut company On The Fly Records.
Lamorinda, CA | Record Pop Up Sale: Rock Steady Records will be having a vintage vinyl Record Pop Up Sale at Vintage Vida during the Lafayette Art and Wine Festival this Saturday from 10-7 in the courtyard of the Clock Tower Building, located between BMO Bank and The Breakfast Club. This is a popular event so there is a shuttle from Lafayette Bart. Rock Steady has rock, jazz, R&B, soul, country, punk, new wave, blues, and more. Vintage Vida offers MCM, vintage decor, barware, art, furniture, jewelry, and unique collectible items.
London, UK | Benjamin Wilkes updates London home with vinyl-filled music room: Architecture studio Benjamin Wilkes has extended a home in Leytonstone, London, named Vinyl House after its music room containing 40 linear metres of records. Benjamin Wilkes renovated the two-storey terraced home to better cater for its clients’ hobbies—cooking and music. Replacing a previous rear extension, the studio created a large kitchen and dining area that can be opened up into a large entertaining space. At the front of Vinyl House, an original reception room has been restored, while the rear reception has been converted into a utility space and a music room off the dining area. Accessed through sliding doors, the music room is lined with 40 linear metres of shelves for vinyl records and black-painted niches containing a record player and amplifier.
NZ | At 50,000 and counting, is this NZ’s biggest record collection? A few weeks ago, Chris (last name withheld to protect identity) was flicking through his record collection when he came across a copy of Brain Drain, a 1989 album by the New York punk act Ramones. He noticed some markings on the cover. “There were scribbles all over it,” he says. He wondered: “What is that?'” Chris took a photo and sent it to a record-collecting friend. “I said, ‘Is this a pisstake?'” His friend looked up the group’s autographs online. “No,” he replied. “That’s been signed by the Ramones.” According to recent sales figures, that could make his copy worth up to US$799 – about NZ$1300. A signed copy of Brain Drain, a 1989 album by the New York punk act Ramones.A signed copy of Brain Drain, a 1989 album by the New York punk act Ramones. Chris didn’t know he had that record. He doesn’t know exactly what’s in his collection because, after more than five decades of collecting, it’s just too big. “There are so many I can go flicking through [them] and go, ‘Oh, I didn’t know I had that,'” he says.
