Losing a record store taught me its true value
Illustrations by Samara Romão
by Ben Kuchera
The only two things you can count on are death and taxes, and sometimes both hit at once. That’s how I found myself staring into the window of my favorite local record store, Black Plastic Records, to see only emptiness, messes, and regret. On the door was a note mentioning something about tax bills. It was closed, for good, without even saying goodbye.
I was gutted. What the hell had happened? Why did this feel like losing a friend? And what do modern record stores mean to people, anyway?
Safe emotions (buy 2, get 1 free)
I started collecting vinyl as both a hobby and a way to connect with music and my feelings again in the wake of Covid-19. Back in 2021, Black Plastic was up the street from my house. Taking a quick trip to go shopping for records and pet the live-in cat, Buttercup, was one of my favorite activities.
For many of my generational peers, vinyl is a nostalgic but fresh way to connect with music and the past, bridging the gap between our digital lives and real-world experiences.
On the advice of my therapist, I started listening to music as its own activity to reconnect with myself in a safe way: I would put on a record with the same emotion I was trying to explore when I felt ready to do so, and then while the record played I could process my feelings of sadness, loss, grief, or also happiness and satisfaction. It was my time to just feel things, and process everything that happened in the past few years.
This is part of a broader trend among younger generations: They’re using vinyl as a way to slow down and experience music more intentionally, a counter to our fast-paced digital lives. The Vinyl Alliance released a study in January 2025 focused on Gen Z’s passion for vinyl. Gen Z & Vinyl Report offers “deeper insights into why this generation is drawn to vinyl … Whether it’s to express their identity, create moments of relaxation, or connect with a wider community of collectors, vinyl records are making a powerful impact on youth culture today.” From a press release about the report: “Gen Z is more likely (61%) than Millennials (53%) and Gen X (27%) to replace digital habits with vinyl listening to improve their mental well-being.”
“It’s a way for you to choose when you feel the strongest emotions,” my therapist told me. “If you find a record you’re nervous to play, it may be due to not wanting to face whatever it’s going to remind you of or make you feel. Listen to the record. Figure out what that emotion is, and work through it.”
It was great advice.
And it’s anchored in research: The Iso-principle is, essentially, “a tool that matches a music listening experience to a current mood or emotion and then gradually shifts to music that represents a desired mood or emotion.” Moving from uncomfortable emotions to comfortable ones can help usher in a positive mood change. The University of Berkeley “found an overlap across cultures and compiled an interactive music map based on people’s responses with 13 emotional dimensions that people in China and the United States self-reported.” You can explore their Interactive Music Map.
Each record I bought was a tool in the exorcism as I tried to elicit different emotions from myself and remember what it was like to feel “normal,” as if that’s a thing that ever existed or could be returned to. In doing so, I had found that buying physical copies of my favorite albums was an important part of the process itself. The physical item had meaning for me, from the cover art to the track listing and the different goodies you could often find inside each release.
Researchers have long thought that the way we purchase and listen to music impacts how we feel about it, and the work in this area is fascinating.
“Music listened to via radio, vinyl records, cassette tapes, or MP3 players have different emotions attached to them,” David Gracon wrote in his 2010 dissertation, which analyzed the record store. “Playing vinyl records over and over again, even as their quality deteriorates as a consequence of multiple use, somehow contributes to the intensity of recorded music stored in memory. For some, the scratches, cracks, and hiss on a vinyl record, capture a different sense of aura, mood, and memory.”
Going out to look at records and discuss the next purchase was as important a part of my record collection as my turntable itself; the act of going to a place outside of my home, looking at physical inventory, deciding what to buy, and talking to the clerk as I paid were all a part of the experience.
This wasn’t just another copy of Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream, it was my copy. I remember where I was when I found it and where I bought it. I know what’s inside it, what year the pressing is, and where the one skip is going to be heard. It was part of my story, and an object with a known history.
Record stores offer a unique social experience — one that a lot of younger people crave. It’s a chance to leave the house and talk music face-to-face in a world where most of our interactions are filtered through screens. It’s also key to healthy development.
Samara Romão
The human touch
Thinking about the sudden closure of Black Plastic inspired me to dig into why I enjoyed the human aspect of shopping for music so much. The modern record store is an often messy, human, and imprecise environment compared to the cold logic of algorithm-powered streaming services and flawed automatic recommendations, but that is a feature, not a bug.
As online search continues to degrade in value for many people, being able to speak to a clerk who knows just about everything about music and recent releases is a joy. “Despite recent advances in electronically mediated communications (Grabher and Ibert, 2014) and the ability of modern algorithms to convert vast amounts of personal data into meaningful suggestions (Webster et al., 2016), respondents also told us that face-to-face interactions in physical spaces are still the best way to send and receive information,” Brian J. Hracs and Johan Jansson wrote in a 2017 research article about the resiliency of brick and mortar record stores in Stockholm.
I didn’t just want to know if the new pressing of Radiohead’s Kid A was in stock, I realized. I also wanted someone to think about that question, look at the band’s shirt I was wearing, and then suggest a few other records to check out. Finding new music is still a horrible challenge online, and nothing beats a human when it comes to making those kinds of connections. Going into a record store is a great way to feel seen, something that is often lacking in modern consumerism.
“Indeed, record shop clerks are skilled at identifying subtle clues and translating this information into concrete recommendations,” Hracs and Jannson continued. “As one respondent explained, ‘if somebody walks in the door and they have a certain look I can usually tell what they’re looking for without them telling me … It is something you learn to develop over time.’’
You can tell a lot about someone by what they decide to do the hard way, and vinyl was my way of listening to music the hard way. It was about the journey, the challenge of finding a record you’re looking for or searching until something jumps out that you have to have.
The time spent leaving the house, meeting and talking to people, and browsing through the racks before bringing something home to listen to meant there were plenty of ways to be surprised and delighted. I’ll have to buy my records at the next best record shop to my house, which is closer to 30 minutes away, but I didn’t care anymore. This isn’t a hobby that can be easily replicated online.
Besides, if the journey is the goal, why not add a few extra miles?
Samara Romão
5 ways to explore record stores and expand your circle through vinyl
Read a story about one legendary collector: Do Not Sell at Any Price
Get inspired by the fascinating world of vinyl collectors and the rare, high-stakes records they chase after.
Check out the film (or book): High Fidelity
Dive into this iconic story of music, relationships, and record stores — a must-watch or read for any vinyl enthusiast.
Participate in Record Store Day
Celebrate with fellow vinyl lovers by supporting local shops, enjoying exclusive releases, and connecting with other collectors.
Start your own collection (in-person if possible): Where to buy vinyl
Begin your journey with a hands-on approach. Visit local record stores, thrift shops, or flea markets to find unique records and connect with shop owners and fellow enthusiasts.
Join Vinyl-Related Social Groups or Events
Seek out local record clubs, social media groups, or vinyl meetups to share your collection, discuss music, and discover new releases.
Ben Kuchera has covered pop culture for over 20 years and has built a pretty solid record collection.
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