When I first walked into Good Records, I was charmed by the store’s pleasant atmosphere. Incense and ambient background music helped relax me and the other customers in the store, making us feel truly at home.
When I was at Good Records, I spoke with Ben, who has worked in the store for five years. He spoke highly of the importance of a record shop in an era with increasingly digital music. He said that by listening to music on their phones, people are losing out on the physical sensations that come with music. Record stores like Good Records provide “an experience. It’s tangible. There’s something mechanical and tactile about picking up a record and listening to it.”
“Records sound better,” Ben added. They sound “warm” and produce better quality sounds. "It may be easier to load up millions of songs online, but there is something missing from the songs that people yearn for," he explained. Good Records also stands out from other record stores because it offers a neat and highly curated selection. "Other record stores are often messy, with records strewn about," Ben commented. Good Records, however, takes a lot of time to cull their wide range offerings, making sure that customers will have what they want when they come in. He described their collection as “vibes that are slightly more esoteric.” Because of those vibes, the shop has become “a bit of a boutique zone.”
Good Records is able to curate its selection so well because each of its employees are musicians or somehow involved in the music industry. Ben, a producer and singer himself, loves that he can work alongside other musicians. Together, they “help create a great vibe” in the store.
