Nestled at the edge of a residential road near Sahara Avenue, a worn-out mauve structure stands apart amidst the beige houses, accompanied by a queue of eager patrons gathering just before 9:00 am on a Saturday morning.
This peculiar site is none other than Record City, a longstanding establishment among Las Vegas’ record stores. The crowd patiently awaits the opening of the 17th annual Record Store Day, a nationwide initiative aimed at supporting local record vendors.
Inside the compact store lies a treasure trove of over 40,000 records and numerous CDs, spanning diverse genres and decades. Joey McDonald, the manager and curator, warmly greets patrons, often recognizing them by name amidst his duties at the register or answering calls.
For McDonald, overseeing Record City for more than 24 years has been about more than just selling music; it’s been about fostering a sense of community for Las Vegans.
Previously managing the original Record City on Charleston for over two decades until its closure in January 2023, McDonald’s now concentrates on building relationships with customers and refining the store’s collection at its current singular location.
Customers like Cottino appreciate McDonald’s personalized service, noting his ability to recognize them even amidst a bustling crowd, a factor that draws them back to the store.
Record Store Day originated in 2008 when independent record store owners united to celebrate local vinyl vendors. Since then, the event has grown exponentially, with thousands of stores and major record labels participating nationwide.
Renowned musicians, including Metallica and Taylor Swift, have endorsed the event, providing exclusive merchandise for customers to collect. This year, rock band Paramore serves as the ambassador, offering two exclusive vinyl releases for Record Store Day patrons.
Paramore’s exclusive releases, along with others, are only available in-store during the event and are limited in quantity, with some releases only producing 100 to 15,000 copies. Stores like Record City often receive minimal copies of certain releases.
Record Store Day aligns with the resurgence of vinyl sales nationwide. Vinyl sales have steadily climbed since their decline in the late 1980s, surpassing CD sales in units sold for the first time in 2022, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
McDonald notes a significant surge in vinyl interest since the inception of Record Store Day, spanning across various age demographics.
