A JOURNAL BY SHINOLA DEDICATED TO JOY OF CRAFT

Metro Detroit Record Store Roundup

BY Taylor Rebhan

We launched the new Shinola Audio division because we’re continuously motivated by Motown’s incredible history, and we want to contribute to that legacy. Through good times and bad, music has united our town. Whether you’re just beginning to collect vinyl or you’ve got stacks of records at home, we hope the Runwell Turntable inspires you to go back to this classic way of listening, and the thrill that is visiting a record store. 

Metro Detroit is full of unique record stores — both old and new. Check out a few of our favorites listed below.

1. Paramita Sound

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Two years ago, Paramita Sound opened in West Village in one of the old houses along Van Dyke Street. The word “paramita” is a Sanskrit word often translated as the cultivation of perfection, which is a fitting name for the vinyl shop since vinyl is often described as producing the perfect sound. 

Detroit-native Andrey Douthard grew up going to local record stores and saw a need for a record store that offered newly pressed vinyl in this heavily trafficked neighborhood. He and a few partners applied to a project called Activate: 1417 Van Dyke Propsoal Competition and won the house that Paramita now calls home. This small and energetic shop has a carefully curated selection of used vinyl and cassette tape, with a main focus on new record presses that support the local music scene. The shop is cat and dog friendly. 

The last Friday of every month, Paramita hosts an event called The Beat Profile that highlights new acts and producers from around the city. Live acts perform everything from techno to hip-hop and the goal is to provide a platform that supports local artists. 1417 Van Dyke, Detroit, MI 48214; (313)423-6844

2. Peoples Records

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Peoples Records has been open since 2003 in Detroit, and it’s the type of record store where you’ll have to “poke around and get your hands dirty,” says owner Brad Hales. He’s lived in Detroit since the mid-70s and has been a collector of vinyl his whole life, so as a musician and DJ he opened the shop to pursue his passion. 

This is a shop with thousands of records of every music genre one could ask for, but it specializes in vintage R&B, jazz, Motown and soul vinyl, along with new releases limited to a small selection of carefully curated local releases. A second location can be found on Livernois Street, where Brad is developing a music museum and community radio station that will play local music many people never get the chance to hear. Both locations have listening rooms and buy used vinyl. 1464 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI 48207 & 20140 Livernois Detroit, MI 48221; (313)831-0864

3. Hello Records

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Hello Records has been open since 2008 and aims to provide a welcoming atmosphere with an eclectic and ever changing selection of vinyl and shellac recordings from all eras on all sizes and all speeds, with a focus on party and dance music from the 1940’s through the 2000’s. Members of the staff are very knowledgeable and will help guide you in the right direction if you’re looking for something in particular. This shop is known for having a “good vibe” with a large selection of unique vinyl offerings at affordable prices. Buy, sell or trade vintage vinyl at this shop. 1459 Bagley Ave, Detroit, MI 48216; (313)300-5654

4. Third Man Records

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Third Man Records is an independent record label originally founded by Jack White in Detroit, MI in 2001. In March of 2009 a physical location was established in Nashville, TN. Third Man Records returned to Detroit in November 2015 with its second retail location, Third Man Records Cass Corridor — record store, novelties lounge, in-store performance stage, record booth, and a vinyl record pressing plant that is being built from the ground up and slated to open in early 2017. The shop’s record pressing plant is home to the first new presses built in nearly 40 years and is located right next to Shinola’s Detroit Flagship store.

Jack White, who is known best as the lead singer of the White Stripes, started his band in this Detroit neighborhood, so it only felt right to setup shop here, says Detroit Third Man operations manager Roe Peterhans. Third Man Records hopes to contribute to Detroit’s music culture and live performances held here will be pressed onto vinyl right at the in-house record pressing plant — allowing people to play even a bigger part of the music creation and listening experience. 441 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201; (313)209-5205

5. Found Sound

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Found Sound opened in Ferndale in 2012 and offers a wide selection of both new and used vinyl. This shop is well organized and has something for all music lovers. It also has a ‘cinerama room’ where they sell old VHS tapes, DVDs, and wide-array of all vintage formats. If you’re looking for music literature, clothing or anything vintage music-related while strolling around Ferndale, this place is a must visit. You can also buy or sell vinyl here. 234 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220; (248)565-8775

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