Making a cassette mixtape for your high school sweetheart to rocking a portable Walkman down the street were the early days of engaging with top hits.
Today, the main way to listen to the latest chart-toppers is through streaming services. Recently, there has been a shift in mainstream pop culture aesthetic by embracing the past, from clothes to TV shows, including “vintage” ways of listening to music. Modern artists are starting to gain inspiration from legacy artists before them, and older music itself is also resurfacing.
Specifically, vinyl records are one of the biggest music-listening forms that are on the surge, making what once was the past, the present. Record shops are becoming more mainstream and a more common pass time to browse and visit for new music discoveries. Records aren’t just a disc; they’re a lifestyle for these shops. Here are a few local record shops worth checking out.
Castaways Vintage to Modern
Castaways Vintage to Modern is not your average record store. Along with its never-ending record collection, the store is also an antique shop and vintage clothing boutique all in one. Castaways is a “discovery store” that is always expanding. It has unique and niche antiques and records that appeal to all ages.
Every item in this store has a one-of-a-kind story. Castaways sells all forms of music media, like record players from the early 1900s to refurbished newer turntables and amplifiers.
The owner, Jason Roth, tries to keep it affordable and even gives away free records. The record collection is also curated by WJCT’s Electro Lounge host, David Luckin. Castaways will fix up used turntables and other various music objects as well. Roth’s goal is to keep and build community through music. Roth left behind his corporate life to pursue his passion for records. The former shop before Castaways was a store he admired dearly. The owners were considering selling the shop, and his dream became a reality. What makes a record special to Roth is the story behind every piece.
Although the records range from all types of genres, the records are mostly oldies and classics. Castaways also holds various events, like its sip-and-shop event “Castaways After Dark” every Wednesday night. Castaways Vintage and Modern is located at 4201 St. Johns Avenue in the Avondale district of Jacksonville. Castaways is open every day at 11 a.m. and has varying closing hours throughout the week. The store is closed Mondays.
Yesterday and Today Records
Yesterday and Today Records doesn’t just sell records, but all forms of music. This shop dabbles in a bit of everything musical by also selling CDs, cassettes, equipment like turntables and band memorabilia since 1988. The music genres vary from broader genres like rock or pop to niche genres like psychedelic and disco.
The store is one of the oldest record shops in Northeast Florida. The history is what separates this record shop from others in Jacksonville. The store was founded by Bill Brueck and his family and remained open until 2001. As time went on, they became an online-only seller. In 2010, they reopened into a physical location at the Beach Boulevard flea market. In 2017, to further share their love of music, the store reopened as a physical store once again.
The Bruecks never want to neglect a genre of music. The store with either analyze collections in-store or make house calls if the collection is big enough. To the store’s founding family, finding these valuables is like treasure hunting, and records are to be played and not just looked at. The store’s items are collected from all over, like garage and estate sales and flea markets, besides personal collections.
The store also hosts various events from time to time. Yesterday and Today Records’ next event will be a record show in downtown Jacksonville on August 2. The store also aims to appeal to a younger crowd. The store has more affordable options, like a $2 record section offering multiple genres. One of the Bruecks’ goals is to encourage young adults, like college students, to start or expand their own collections by providing affordable options. Even though the $2 records are not collectables, there is still something for everyone.
Yesterday and Today Records is located at 1522 Hendricks Ave. in San Marco and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Old Rocking Chair Records
Old Rocking Chair Records was founded by David Smart. Even though this record shop is newer than others in Northeast Florida, it is still worth checking out.
Smart has worked in multiple record stores over the years and always dreamed of opening his own store. This record store sells not only records, but CDs, tapes, and even some antiques. He has invested in records for the past 10 years. His store is made up of vinyl from various record labels and distributors. Collectors can trade in collections in for store credit or cash. If the collection is large enough, the store will make house calls.
This store is the place to get exclusives rarer than the traditional record. The store also has an online storefront that is constantly being updated. The record store also hosts live events every first Saturday of each month. The events consist of hosting several different vendors and live music in collaboration with the music shop 5th Century Music.
Old Rocking Chair Records is located at 74 Masters Drive in St. Augustine. The store opens every day at 11 a.m. and closing hours vary throughout the week.
Tiger Records
Tiger Records is an independent record shop in the historic Riverside district of Jacksonville. This store is mostly made up of hand-picked records bought from avid record collectors. Not only can a collector walk in with their records, but Tiger Records will do house calls as well.
Rarity and quality of the vinyl is what the store’s record connoisseurs look for. The rarity the press and the condition of the record are what determine pricing when buying or selling. Tiger Records also sells band T-shirts that have either been donated or sold, along with its own tiger-themed merch. Whether it’s a T-shirt or vinyl, they try to give customers some type of compensation. Tiger Records sell a wide variety of mainstream genres, like hip hop, indie and pop, to more niche genres, like different forms of rock and R&B. For the past seven years since opening, they have accumulated a curated mixture of vintage and new vinyl ranging from newer artists like Sabrina Carpenter to classics like The Beatles.
Tiger Records is located at 875 Stockton Street and is open all week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Vinyl is back in style: 5 record stores in Jacksonville worth visiting
Reporting by Amelia Espinales, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Amelia Espinales, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
