Like so many other businesses in the pandemic, record stores have had to move online. This isn’t necessarily a new move: Discogs, eBay, and other sites have been hubs for vinyl for years.
But for the independent shops that have long held onto their brick-and-mortar locations, their spirit of discovery and generosity—and the warm communities for music lovers they have built—are translating online, too.
If you’re going to buy records, buy them from these stores now so you can enjoy them in person later. Record GrouchBrooklyn, New York Record Grouch is my kingdom for records I didn’t know I needed.
On my last visit to the Brooklyn shop, I was greeted by the sound of a recent live record by free-jazz improv trio the Underflow.