To music mavens, vinyl hoarders and those who love a leisurely afternoon spent expanding their record collections, Record Store Day is basically Christmas. Every third Sunday in April, record stores across the world throw parties, welcome bands, offer deals and stock limited-edition RSD-exclusive releases. Even if the Indie Rock Coloring Book is Greek to you, RSD is the perfect time to meet musicians, support local businesses and get familiar with new releases and rare retro finds. Scroll on for our 15 can’t-miss spots worth visiting on Record Store Day and every day after.
1. Criminal Records (Atlanta): Come for the records, CDs and tapes; stay for the comics, magazines and toys. Fun fact: Founder and owner Eric Levin was one of the co-founders of Record Store Day. (Photo via Criminal Records)
2. The Sound Garden (Baltimore and Syracuse): No word on whether Chris Cornell and the members of Soundgarden shop here, but chances are they’d have a blast rifling through this indie store’s used vinyl collection. (Photo via @sg_bmore)
3. Phonoluxe Records, Movies + Music (Nashville): It’s fitting that this old-school store, just outside of downtown Nashville, is right down the road from Woodlawn Memorial Park, where country legends Webb Pierce, Tammy Wynette and Porter Wagoner (Dolly Parton’s longtime duet partner) are all buried.
4. Rooky Ricardo’s (San Francisco): For 20 years, this colorful and quirky shop with a 1960s feel has held court in the Lower Haight, focusing on girl groups, soul and R&B vinyl. Stock up on 45s here, because they’re only two dollars. (Photo via Rooky Ricardo’s)
5. Euclid Records (New Orleans and St. Louis): Not only is Euclid’s St. Louis location home to a plethora of in-store performances, but the store also releases the recordings as limited-edition 45s. If you’re at the NOLA location, make sure to check out the hot-pink Ernie K-Doe mural. (Photo via @stcardiff)
6. Graveface Records + Curiosities (Savannah): You can find music at this tiny shop run by the Graveface record label and get your taxidermy fix too. Or, opt for the wide selection of bitters and cocktail supplies. (Photo via Graveface)
7. Waterloo Records (Austin): This Austin staple pre-dates SXSW’s coolness, but it’s always been a mecca for Texas music-seekers. CDs and records are simply filed A-Z (not by genre), so you don’t even need to know what you’re in the mood for when you shop, which is half the battle, right? (Photo via Waterloo Records)
8. Permanent Records (LA + Chicago): We love everything about these two stores, but this pizza slipmat for your record player kinda takes the cake — er, pie. If you’ll be near the LA store on Record Store Day, check out an in-store performance by John Doe and Exene of punk legends X. (Photo via @permanentrecordschicago)
9. Sugar Shack Records (Madison): Trekking down 1-94 with only a tape player for tunes? Stop at Madison’s Sugar Shack Records to stock up on classic-rock and country cassettes for the road. (Photo via Sugar Shack Records)
10. Wax Trax (Denver): This teeny-tiny store is a goldmine of old 45s, jazz, punk and classic country. Pro tip: Pop over to the nearby Kirkland Museum of Fine + Decorative Art for a fascinating tour beforehand. (Photo via For The Love of Punk)
11. Aquarius Records (San Francisco): Opened in 1970, the oldest independent record store in SF specializes in “cool, weird and wonderful” music, and claims to only stock what the staff really loves. (Photo via Gallivant)
12. Everyday Music (Portland + Seattle): You can find everything from Top 40 pop to obscure reggae at Everyday’s five Pacific Northwest locations. The downtown Portland location even has a separate store that houses jazz and classical. If you’re at the Seattle location, make sure to pop around the corner to visit the Jimi Hendrix statue. (Photo via @tryttenpnw)
13. Hymie’s Vintage Records (Minneapolis): This East Lake Street mom-and-pop shop (literally — owners Dave and Laura Hoenack have two babies) is also a record label. Wile away an afternoon sifting through retro rock, early R&B and oodles of other gems. (Photo via Hymie’s Vintage Records)
14. Shangri-La Records (Memphis): If rare blues, funk, psych and soul — and just about any other genre you can imagine — sounds up your alley, downtown Memphis’ Shangri-La will totally live up to its name. (Photo via Shangri-La Records)
15. Black Gold (Brooklyn): It wouldn’t be an indie-record-store list without a shoutout to BKLYN. This Carroll Gardens shop also has coffee and antiques. (Photo via Jacob Krupnick/AirBnB)
Where will you be shopping this Record Store Day? Did we miss your favorite store? Let us know in the comments below!
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.