It's been a long time since I've seen a shop, much less been in a store, like Gary's Record Paradise. With the invention of iTunes and digital downloading, records, cassettes, and CDs are old news, but it's nice to know that there's still a place that brings back memories and the feeling of placing your favorite vinyl record on a spindle.
Opened by Gary Goldstein in August of 1977, Gary's Record Paradise is now operated by Dr. Eustaquio Kirby. A difference you'd notice from other record and CD shops is the organization. You see the hard work that's put into the setup of the shop; everything is in alphabetical order and also organized by genre. You're almost overwhelmed by the selection when you walk through the doors as you notice the dozens of albums displayed on the wall. You feel comfortable, too, with refreshments to enjoy while you browse, interesting people to discuss music, and there's constantly new selections coming into the store. Eustaquio may even give you some new trivia on your favorite band, album, or on music history in general. Do you know how many grooves are in a record? I do now, thanks to Dr. Eustaquio Kirby.
Gary's Record Paradise is open 1 to 7 Tuesday thru Friday and 11 to 7 on Saturday. They're also open the Sunday before Christmas for those looking for last minute Christmas gifts.
more