Record Store Day: Local shops host releases

Chicago’s independent record stores are turning Saturday, April 25, into a citywide vinyl crawl with limited releases, live sets and early-morning lines. (chicago.suntimes.com) Record Store Day began in 2007 as an effort by independent store owners and employees to spotlight local record shops, and the first event was held on April 19, 2008. The official site says nearly 1,400 independently owned stores in the United States now take part, alongside thousands more internationally. (recordstoreday.com) The 2026 official release list includes more than 350 special titles, and Record Store Day says those records are sold through participating stores rather than a central online shop. The releases are limited and typically sold first come, first served. (recordstoreday.com) In Illinois, the official Record Store Day store finder lists more than two dozen Chicago participants, including 606 Records, Beverly Records, Dusty Groove, Laurie’s Planet of Sound, Shuga Records and three Reckless Records locations. The site also warns that listed stores may not carry every title or every promotion. (recordstoreday.com) Chicago shops have built the day into a neighborhood event as much as a sales event. Vocalo and the Chicago Sun-Times reported that more than three dozen stores in the area were planning live events and special deals, with some customers expected to line up Friday night. (vocalo.org) At Beverly Records in Morgan Park, the store planned to open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., host a ceremonial needle drop with the cast of Goodman Theatre’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” raffle show tickets and offer 20 percent off used vinyl. Bridgeport Records, at 3251 South Halsted Street, scheduled live DJ sets and a pop-up from Prairie Cannabis. (chicago.suntimes.com) Dusty Groove in Ukrainian Village planned 7 a.m. opening times, hundreds of limited releases, free gifts with purchase, coffee, donut holes and a morning magic show. Laurie’s Planet of Sound in Lincoln Square said it would put out rare used long-playing records, or LPs, saved specifically for the day. (vocalo.org) Third Coast Review reported that Record Store Day is often the biggest sales day of the year for participating shops, but it also noted that some stores skip the program because of the costs tied to carrying the special releases. The publication urged shoppers to support nonparticipating stores too. (thirdcoastreview.com) For Chicago buyers, the practical math is simple: show up early, expect limited stock and check with each store before chasing a specific pressing. Record Store Day’s own store finder says participation does not guarantee any single release will be in the bins when the doors open. (recordstoreday.com)