More Than the Music: Record Stores Still Remain Popular

Ozzy Ozborne “No Rest for the Wicked” LP Vinyl spinning on a record player in Elmhurst Records on Sept. 18. (PC: Ian Murphy)

Trends always resurge. Whether it’s clothing, media, toys, or especially music. Music has always been popular, but how people listen to music is constantly changing.

In an article from camoinassociates.com, they explain how for most of the 20th century, vinyl records were the most popular music format, but as technology became more advanced, records and record players started losing popularity.

However, as time went on vinyl record sales started increasing. The article states 2007 as the year that record sales began increasing again. It only kept growing. In 2022 vinyl records officially surpassed CDs as the most popular physical recorded music format for the first time since 1987.

With the increased popularity in records, and record players, people (like me) have bought record players for the aesthetic and to experience the different sound quality that vinyl can bring. With vinyl being so popular, I wanted to find out if record stores were still popular and the best record stores in the area.

• Elmhurst Records 

Location: 107 N Addison Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126

Elmhurst Records has a very cool feel to it. It is not super big so it feels cozy, but in contrast to the smallness of the store, the record selection is vast.

Operating for 15 years, the store’s main objective from their website is to “put great, affordable music and instruments in your hands without breaking the bank.”

I found this to be very true on my visit.

I was able to talk with Ozzy, nicknaming himself as a tribute to the late Ozzy Osborne, and he told me just how cool the store really was. He talked about a review that a customer left that perfectly describes the store.

Ozzy holds up “No Rest for the Wicked” on Sept. 18. (PC: Ian Murphy)

“Time has a way of escaping in this shop. You always tell yourself, ‘oh I’m just going to browse’, but you end up leaving with something.”

Ozzy loves the store because it has a little bit of everything from old to new, pop to rock. I found this to be true as well when I browsed. Ozzy mentioned the excitement of finding a new record, which is one reason he loves record stores and working at one.

“Theres buying it [a record] off the market, which is off Ebay, Discogs, whatever. But there’s also the thrill of finding it in the wild, where you’re just browsing and go ‘oh my god’ they have this record and you pick it up even if you own a copy,” Ozzy said.

Overall, I really enjoyed the vibe of this store and the people who work there were very warm and welcoming!

• Cheap Kiss Records 

Location: 22 S Villa Ave, Villa Park, IL 60181

The next store I went to was Cheap Kiss Records in Villa Park. They opened in 2008. This store is also a bookstore which is very unique! As soon as I walked in I got such a good homey feel from the store

It was almost like I was transferred back in time to the land of only physical media. Honestly, it was a refreshing break from the fast paced world of social media we have today.

At this store, I talked to Liz Michael, who works more with the books, but has a love for records and other physical media. Michael has worked here for about two years, but remembers coming to the store as a kid with her grandma.

Michael remembers getting her very first record, “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd, for $30 and falling in love with records. She believes there has been a boom in records because of the aesthetic of them. As well as people who were unhappy with streaming services like Spotify, turning to vinyls.

“It’s like you have a tangible physical thing. Or like the artwork that can be like almost the size of a small painting,” said Michael.

She also touched on something that I enjoy about going to record stores, the community aspect. People like supporting a local business and it can be a lot cheaper to buy used records rather than commodity-priced pop hits at a big chain like Target.

Cheap Kiss Records had a wide selection of records which were in very good condition and could be tailored to anyone’s music taste. I definitely will be coming back here to buy some records for myself!

Ozzy and a member of the Elmhurst District 205 PTA discuss potential school sponsorships on Sept. 18. (PC: Ian Murphy)

• Record Wonderland 

Location:  737 E Nerge Rd, Roselle, IL 60172

The last store on my journey was Record Wonderland in Roselle. This store opened in 2016 and had so much to choose from! This store had the biggest selection of records from my travels and had a good vibe to it.

I talked to owner Steve Young to find out what made this store so cool. Young explained that he had always liked records and sold them online for a while, so when he had the chance to open a record store he was excited.

He said that there are still a lot of people who prefer records to streaming.

“People like to have something they can hold on to, instead of something abstract like a phone. With a record player there’s a more dedicated system and little rituals associated with it,” said Young.

Artists are generally paid more money selling a record than from streaming, Young explained, which is why some people decide to buy vinyls.

The store has so many different genres. While primarily rock focused, Record Wonderland features vintage jazz, soul and pop albums. If you like to find old, rare records this is the place for you!

I really enjoyed going to these stores and finding out just how trends change and resurge over time, especially within music. I always love the opportunity to talk to new people and explore what makes physical media so great, with these stores solidifying my beliefs.