Just a few short years ago, the demise of the record store seemed imminent. Like most brick-and-mortar stores, the lure and ease of online purchasing was crashing down on independent store owners.
But more recently, people are beginning to realize what they were missing: the personal touch and enjoyment of browsing and discovering unexpected items, while conversing with like-minded souls.
“People come here from all over Ohio and PA,” says Greg Beaumont, owner of Mentor’s renowned Record Den. “A lot of our business is word-of-mouth. I can recognize the out-of-towners because they stay the longest, and spend the most.”
Beaumont was just 21 when he began working as a sales clerk at Record Den in 1974, then located in the Newberry’s store at the Great Lakes Mall. “I’ve always been a big music lover so I figured, why not work at a place where I’m surrounded by it?” says Beaumont, who grew up in Euclid, “When Newberry’s closed in 1993, the store was moved here. I bought it in 2001.”
After some lean years due to the digital age, Record Den’s popularity is on the upswing, thanks in part to the resurgence of vinyl records. “Personally, I never thought interest in vinyl records would resurface, but, ironically, because the younger generation only knew their music through digital, they find it fascinating to hold an album, and look at the cover art. And boomers, of course, enjoying it for the nostalgia.”
Beaumont says his regulars know what to expect when they walk in the doors. “We have a very knowledgeable staff, loyal customers, and records in all forms—CDs, vinyl, and even cassette tapes.”
He adds that it doesn’t matter what format the music comes in, as long as people keep coming, looking, and buying. “When you’re passionate about what you do, you do whatever it takes to keep customers happy.”
Record Den is located at 7661 Mentor Avenue in Mentor. Call 440-946-9909 for more info.