5 KC record stores worth digging through
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Collection of vinyl records. Photo: Courtesy of Emily Curiel/Getty Images
KC vinyl hunters are spoiled for choice, whether that means a cavernous Westport shop or a south KC storefront that started in the owner's backyard shed. Wednesday's National Vinyl Record Day is reason enough to hit one.
Why it matters: Independent shops took more than 4 in 10 U.S. vinyl sales last year, Luminate reported, and nearly every store below is locally owned.
Flashback: California financial planner Gary Freiberg came up with the day in November 2001, saying he wanted to give people a break from the war and terrorism coverage after 9/11.
- He set the date for Aug. 12 because Thomas Edison is said to have invented the phonograph that day in 1877, though the Library of Congress notes he likely didn't finish it until December.
Check out these five shops that span both sides of the state line, from Westport to Overland Park.
💿 Mills Record Company
Judy Mills opened this Westport shop in 2013 and later moved it into a former antique mall on Broadway, where more than 6,000 square feet hold new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes and books.
- Start with the $3, $4 and $5 bargain section, and watch for the shop dog, Conway Twitty.
If you go: The store is open 11am to 7pm Monday through Saturday and noon to 6pm Sunday.
🎸 Josey Records
The Crossroads store has two floors of new and used LPs, 45s, cassettes, turntables and audio gear. The basement holds much of the used stock and is easy to miss.
If you go: Doors open at 11am Monday through Saturday and noon Sunday, with 9pm closings Friday and Saturday.
☕ Sister Anne's Records and Coffee
This Midtown shop pairs a coffee bar with a used-vinyl room lined in vintage concert posters. Owners Frank Alvarez and Jim Oshel named it for Anne Winter, a co-owner of the late Recycled Sounds.
If you go: Hours are 8am to 6pm daily.
🎤 GotWhatULike Records
Mark Harper sold records out of his backyard shed before regulars pushed him into a south KC storefront in 2014.
- It advertises 12,000 records and 8,000 singles across hip-hop, funk, soul and jazz, plus used turntables and receivers.
If you go: Hours run 11am to 6pm Tuesday through Saturday and 11am to 5pm Sunday.
🎺 Vinyl Heaven
This Overland Park shop in Louisburg Square carries new and used LPs, 45s, 78s and CDs, and it's picky about condition, so you won't be flipping past scratched-up records to find something worth buying.
If you go: The store opens at noon on weekdays, 10am Saturday and noon Sunday.
Honorable mention: FM Music Vintage Sounds was North Kansas City's first record store and still runs out of a 600-square-foot room.
- Planet Queen Records & Vintage sits on Independence Square.
The bottom line: Wednesday is a good day to find the shop nearest you.