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| - As far as I can tell, this is the best indie record store in Cleveland.
It's pretty small, and Collinwood isn't exactly the most convenient spot in town (although the store is right off I-90), but what the store lacks in square footage it makes up for in spades with charm, selection and indie-cred.
The store stocks mostly new indie releases on CD and vinyl. There are some used records in the back, and you can get your digital fix, but the main attraction here is the wall of new LP's. Like I said before, this isn't the biggest store I've ever been in, so they've obviously had to make some choices as far as which records to stock, but they've done it just right. Most of the records I wanted were here, including some that I didn't know I wanted before I started looking (which is how I buy most of my records. record shopping isn't about a means to an end for me, it's the experience).
The best part about this place is that it's a family-run business and these people know exactly what they're doing. They have a cat that lives in the shop, they're part of a fantastic little neighborhood association (seriously! check out some of the other businesses in this little Waterloo area while you're there! Beachland Ballroom, Blue Arrow Records, that weird toy store, the yo-yo club; they're all winners!) and they have an ear for great tunes. I asked the girl there, Melanie, to suggest something local and after perking up, making a small noise and giving me a look that seemed to mean, "finally! someone asked!" she pointed me to a fantastic LP by a Cleveland band (Cloud Nothings) that I've been enjoying ever since!
I would highly recommend this place to anyone who loves music or record stores, local or visitor alike. Go here and to Blue Arrow down the street in the same trip before catching a show at the Beachland. You'll love it, but your wallet might not.
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