List Of: Active Record Stores In Illinois Outside Of Chicago
Aug 18, 2021 8:21:49 GMT -6
jeffradon2000, somejabroni, and 1 more like this
Post by brain galacki on Aug 18, 2021 8:21:49 GMT -6
Good morning forum! Today I'm going to start compiling a big active list of record stores in Illinois that are outside of Chicago. Maybe if I finish this and feel real ambitious later on I'll tackle Chicago. But maybe I would tackle St. Louis first. I'm going to start small and just gradually add to this. I think I will sort them by city.
Updated 8/18/21 - I just have 5 stores started, but will be updating and adding to this!!
SPRINGFIELD
DUMB RECORDS
Address: 418 E Monroe Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-7pm everyday (we'll be there in 20 days Jeff I don't need some smart aleck comment outta you)
Websites: website | twitter | facebook | instagram | discogs | youtube
Bio: You kno what it is... Dumb Record... record store? arcade? all ages music venue? a cute kitty cate named pepperoni pizza? a giant dumb a$%* green elephant outside? Dumb Records is the teen paradise Springfield has needed this whole time. The Black Sheep Cafe had a baby in 2014 and Dumb Records is what came out. I guess if you think of it Black Sheep was the baby of Skank Skates kind of. And so Dumb Records is the grand child of Skank Skates, but then Dumb Records disowned its own grandfather and moved downtown in the start of 2019. Some of the fiercest record farming in the whole midwest.
ELF SHELF BOOKS & MUSIC
Address: 413 E Adams Street
Hours of Operation: 12:00-5:30pm Wed-Friday, 10:00am-3:00pm Saturday, closed Sunday-Tuesday (according to Googel)
Websites: facebook | instagram
Bio: A grumpy old man named Gary used to own this store for 20 million years in Springfield. It's not the Recycled Records Gary though, I know this is confusing. He existed somewhere outside of downtown and moved downtown at one point. Then this other guy John bought the business from him in like 2017 or something. John is a lot less grumpy, he's a nice guy. It's a bookstore and a record store. All used stuff. John likes his New Orleans style jazz and a lot of other jazz and blues and funk and stuff.
RECYCLED RECORDS
Address: 625 E Adams
Hours of Operation: 9:00-5:30pm Monday-Saturday
Websites: (none, LOL)
Bio: Recycled Records emerged from Springfield Recycled Furniture Company which has been in the family of Mark & Gary Kessler for 150 years now. Their great great great grandparents started the business and sold their first chair to Abraham Lincoln. Mark & Gary started selling used records in the upstairs and the rest is history. Now Recycled Records have taken over the whole building, and they are all old. They are looking to sell the business for one million dollars and if they don't find a buyer by March 31st of 2022 they will all quit because they don't like the homeless.
DECATUR
SPEAKEASY RECORDS & ODDITIES
Address: 651 W Eldorado Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-5pm Tuesday-Friday, 9am-2pm Saturday (hours on googel differ from what's listed on facebook)
Websites: facebook
Bio: This record store is ran by another Brian. He used to have an older location but it burned down in a devastating fire and the community gathered around him and he built up a new store at a new location from scratch, and then also weathered a pandemic. even with all of this being the case, the store is full with cool stuff - records, little trinkets, and plenty of art. a lot of cool psych stuff, some punk, and a neat local section. when I was there he even had an old Elton John pinball machine but that's gone now. he has an open lot right next door to his building he says he wants to turn into an outdoor area where bands can play.
TAYLORVILLE
SYDNEY LYNN'S LITTLE BOOK SHOP & VINYL
Address: 109 W Main Cross Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-6pm Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm Saturday
Websites: facebook
Bio: The moment we have all been waiting for... a record store right on the square in downtown Taylorville! This is walking distance from Bill's Toasty, so do you need to know any more? This store is brand brand brand new, I haven't even been in it, so bear with us. They get their records from us right now and sell them for $10 more than what we sell them for, but that is because they are just getting started. They do have a cool Beatles mural in the back.
HILLSBORO
THE GOLD PAN
Address: 309 S Main Street
Hours of Operation: Thursday-Saturday 12:30-5:00pm
Websites: facebook | youtube
Bio: Talk about a hidden gem right on the strip of small town Hillsboro - The Gold Pan is one of the best kept secrets of Central Illinois off the beaten path. They are only open for limited hours on the weekend, but are constantly putting out good and affordable stuff. It's a small space and there used to be a recording studio behind them, but now I think it's just a vintage shop. One owner Brian Lee is a carpenter and does amazing work revitalizing a lot of old buildings in Hillsboro. The other owner Matt Sands is a psychedelic used vinyl gooroo - both of them just do it for the love.
COLLINSVILLE
RICH'S RECORD EMPORIUM
Address: 131 W Main Street
Hours of Operation: 11am-5pm Tues-Thurs, 11am-7pm Fri, 10am-4pm Sat
Websites: website | facebook
Bio: Okay, this is the one on this list that I have not been to yet. This is probably an old guy record store that has been around for 50 years based on the name alone, and also from the photos I am seeing. Looks like their store is half used speakers and audio equipment. Which there is nothing wrong with, Rich. This one is next up on my list to go and visit. Too bad on my two days off they are closed.
ALTON / GODFREY IL
RIVERBEND RECORDS
Address: 2720 Grovelin Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-7pm everyday except Sunday 11am-5pm
Websites: website | facebook | instagram | youtube
Bio: One of just a couple of record stores that I know of that has popped up since the start of the COVID-era. Rumor has it that this man was a musician of some sort and when the pandemic hit he said f***-it, and threw his entire life savings into opening a record store and said I'm gonna do this now. Now he's trying to make it big on youtube and trying to be the biggest record store in the whole area. I went in and they even had KISS pinball but the main guy wasn't there and I didn't talk to anybody. Records are a little pricey, sorry guy. He has the biggest neck out of all of the record store owners, but I have the littlest neck.
EFFINGHAM
AMERICA'S GROOVE
Address: 210 N Banker St, Effingham, IL 62401
Hours of Operation: 11am-6pm Tuesday-Saturdays
Websites: facebook | instagram | website | "basement horror instagram"
Bio: A fan-favorite here at Dumb Records, record store in Effingham that is also a wacky toy store, and even has a few arcade games! Maybe comparable to Bric-A-Brac in Chicago, just the Southern Illinois version. I recommend the trip to pick up a BOGLIN or a KIT KAT CLOCK alone. And while you're there why not pick up a pack or two of CANDY CIGARETTES? And oh what's this at the counter, a pack of MUPPET TRADING CARDS??? Yes, please! Oh, you forgot to even look at their records! But seriously, the fact that this cool store exists and seems to thrive in Effingham is inspiring and kinda goes to show that a cool record store can exist anywhere nowadays. Owner Aaron "America" has his own video store in his basement that is 1,000 times better than our own Mitch Baker bunker.
CARBONDALE
PLAZA RECORDS
Address: 816 E Main St.
Hours of Operation: 10am-6pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Websites: facebook
Bio: I went all the way to Carbondale one time and this store was closed, figures! Seems like it's one that has been around for a while but it's unfortunately passed it's hey-day. Maybe moved to a smaller location at one point? And surely cut back on their hours as well. Boy, Carbondale seems like it's all really gone downhill. Well, at least this place is still kickin' in some form or another. I'll surely make it in the store some day and report back.
MT. VERNON
MAIN STREET RECORDS
Address: 313 S 10th Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday
Websites: facebook | discogs
Bio: Lo and behold, I came across this Mt. Vernon record store while trying to uncover more info on what members of the band FARM (from Mt. Vernon) are doing nowadays and if they are still alive. I didn't think there were more stores in southern Illinois that I had not been to such as this one. From what I gather this place has been around since 1978 and I'm assuming has the same ownership as the original days, so it's the Recycled Records of Souther IL. I'm having a hard time telling how big it is or what it's even like - I need to make a trip and report back.
Updated 8/18/21 - I just have 5 stores started, but will be updating and adding to this!!
SPRINGFIELD
DUMB RECORDS
Address: 418 E Monroe Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-7pm everyday (we'll be there in 20 days Jeff I don't need some smart aleck comment outta you)
Websites: website | twitter | facebook | instagram | discogs | youtube
Bio: You kno what it is... Dumb Record... record store? arcade? all ages music venue? a cute kitty cate named pepperoni pizza? a giant dumb a$%* green elephant outside? Dumb Records is the teen paradise Springfield has needed this whole time. The Black Sheep Cafe had a baby in 2014 and Dumb Records is what came out. I guess if you think of it Black Sheep was the baby of Skank Skates kind of. And so Dumb Records is the grand child of Skank Skates, but then Dumb Records disowned its own grandfather and moved downtown in the start of 2019. Some of the fiercest record farming in the whole midwest.
ELF SHELF BOOKS & MUSIC
Address: 413 E Adams Street
Hours of Operation: 12:00-5:30pm Wed-Friday, 10:00am-3:00pm Saturday, closed Sunday-Tuesday (according to Googel)
Websites: facebook | instagram
Bio: A grumpy old man named Gary used to own this store for 20 million years in Springfield. It's not the Recycled Records Gary though, I know this is confusing. He existed somewhere outside of downtown and moved downtown at one point. Then this other guy John bought the business from him in like 2017 or something. John is a lot less grumpy, he's a nice guy. It's a bookstore and a record store. All used stuff. John likes his New Orleans style jazz and a lot of other jazz and blues and funk and stuff.
RECYCLED RECORDS
Address: 625 E Adams
Hours of Operation: 9:00-5:30pm Monday-Saturday
Websites: (none, LOL)
Bio: Recycled Records emerged from Springfield Recycled Furniture Company which has been in the family of Mark & Gary Kessler for 150 years now. Their great great great grandparents started the business and sold their first chair to Abraham Lincoln. Mark & Gary started selling used records in the upstairs and the rest is history. Now Recycled Records have taken over the whole building, and they are all old. They are looking to sell the business for one million dollars and if they don't find a buyer by March 31st of 2022 they will all quit because they don't like the homeless.
DECATUR
SPEAKEASY RECORDS & ODDITIES
Address: 651 W Eldorado Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-5pm Tuesday-Friday, 9am-2pm Saturday (hours on googel differ from what's listed on facebook)
Websites: facebook
Bio: This record store is ran by another Brian. He used to have an older location but it burned down in a devastating fire and the community gathered around him and he built up a new store at a new location from scratch, and then also weathered a pandemic. even with all of this being the case, the store is full with cool stuff - records, little trinkets, and plenty of art. a lot of cool psych stuff, some punk, and a neat local section. when I was there he even had an old Elton John pinball machine but that's gone now. he has an open lot right next door to his building he says he wants to turn into an outdoor area where bands can play.
TAYLORVILLE
SYDNEY LYNN'S LITTLE BOOK SHOP & VINYL
Address: 109 W Main Cross Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-6pm Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm Saturday
Websites: facebook
Bio: The moment we have all been waiting for... a record store right on the square in downtown Taylorville! This is walking distance from Bill's Toasty, so do you need to know any more? This store is brand brand brand new, I haven't even been in it, so bear with us. They get their records from us right now and sell them for $10 more than what we sell them for, but that is because they are just getting started. They do have a cool Beatles mural in the back.
HILLSBORO
THE GOLD PAN
Address: 309 S Main Street
Hours of Operation: Thursday-Saturday 12:30-5:00pm
Websites: facebook | youtube
Bio: Talk about a hidden gem right on the strip of small town Hillsboro - The Gold Pan is one of the best kept secrets of Central Illinois off the beaten path. They are only open for limited hours on the weekend, but are constantly putting out good and affordable stuff. It's a small space and there used to be a recording studio behind them, but now I think it's just a vintage shop. One owner Brian Lee is a carpenter and does amazing work revitalizing a lot of old buildings in Hillsboro. The other owner Matt Sands is a psychedelic used vinyl gooroo - both of them just do it for the love.
COLLINSVILLE
RICH'S RECORD EMPORIUM
Address: 131 W Main Street
Hours of Operation: 11am-5pm Tues-Thurs, 11am-7pm Fri, 10am-4pm Sat
Websites: website | facebook
Bio: Okay, this is the one on this list that I have not been to yet. This is probably an old guy record store that has been around for 50 years based on the name alone, and also from the photos I am seeing. Looks like their store is half used speakers and audio equipment. Which there is nothing wrong with, Rich. This one is next up on my list to go and visit. Too bad on my two days off they are closed.
ALTON / GODFREY IL
RIVERBEND RECORDS
Address: 2720 Grovelin Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-7pm everyday except Sunday 11am-5pm
Websites: website | facebook | instagram | youtube
Bio: One of just a couple of record stores that I know of that has popped up since the start of the COVID-era. Rumor has it that this man was a musician of some sort and when the pandemic hit he said f***-it, and threw his entire life savings into opening a record store and said I'm gonna do this now. Now he's trying to make it big on youtube and trying to be the biggest record store in the whole area. I went in and they even had KISS pinball but the main guy wasn't there and I didn't talk to anybody. Records are a little pricey, sorry guy. He has the biggest neck out of all of the record store owners, but I have the littlest neck.
EFFINGHAM
AMERICA'S GROOVE
Address: 210 N Banker St, Effingham, IL 62401
Hours of Operation: 11am-6pm Tuesday-Saturdays
Websites: facebook | instagram | website | "basement horror instagram"
Bio: A fan-favorite here at Dumb Records, record store in Effingham that is also a wacky toy store, and even has a few arcade games! Maybe comparable to Bric-A-Brac in Chicago, just the Southern Illinois version. I recommend the trip to pick up a BOGLIN or a KIT KAT CLOCK alone. And while you're there why not pick up a pack or two of CANDY CIGARETTES? And oh what's this at the counter, a pack of MUPPET TRADING CARDS??? Yes, please! Oh, you forgot to even look at their records! But seriously, the fact that this cool store exists and seems to thrive in Effingham is inspiring and kinda goes to show that a cool record store can exist anywhere nowadays. Owner Aaron "America" has his own video store in his basement that is 1,000 times better than our own Mitch Baker bunker.
CARBONDALE
PLAZA RECORDS
Address: 816 E Main St.
Hours of Operation: 10am-6pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Websites: facebook
Bio: I went all the way to Carbondale one time and this store was closed, figures! Seems like it's one that has been around for a while but it's unfortunately passed it's hey-day. Maybe moved to a smaller location at one point? And surely cut back on their hours as well. Boy, Carbondale seems like it's all really gone downhill. Well, at least this place is still kickin' in some form or another. I'll surely make it in the store some day and report back.
MT. VERNON
MAIN STREET RECORDS
Address: 313 S 10th Street
Hours of Operation: 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday
Websites: facebook | discogs
Bio: Lo and behold, I came across this Mt. Vernon record store while trying to uncover more info on what members of the band FARM (from Mt. Vernon) are doing nowadays and if they are still alive. I didn't think there were more stores in southern Illinois that I had not been to such as this one. From what I gather this place has been around since 1978 and I'm assuming has the same ownership as the original days, so it's the Recycled Records of Souther IL. I'm having a hard time telling how big it is or what it's even like - I need to make a trip and report back.
