Local music shop is bringing back vinyl

Kayla Wamsley
Contributing Writer

“Play” buttons are overrated – the resurrection of the vinyl record in music stores shows more and more Richmond locals are ditching their iPods and CD Players and going back to the record needle.

Plan 9 Music, a record store located in Carytown, fully supports the comeback of the vinyl record. Earlier this year the records store began expanding its vinyl collection by stocking lower-price vinyl on the first floor.

Now in the first weeks of October, the entire basement is stocked completely with vinyl, and decorated with oddities and collectables. Records are stacked one behind the other under respective genre tabs. The overflow of vinyl records onto the main floor has even replaced some items in the CD and DVD room.

Customers dig persistently every day through the hundreds of vinyl records to find a gem to add to their collection.

Plan 9 Music also buys records from customers who are looking to get rid of old collections in exchange for cash.

“We might buy anywhere from 500 to 1,000 vinyl records in a week,” Josh Thomas, an employee of Plan 9 said. “A lot of the records we purchase sell for as low as a dollar.”

Collecting vinyl is a growing Richmond trend, according to Thomas. He said records are considerably cheaper, which contributes to the rise in sales. Another reason, he says, is that many people were exposed as children to vinyl records by their parents.

“I believe that people are looking back to the roots of music again seeing how it was made, how people listened to it and what it felt like to them,” said Emily Terry, a frequent Plan 9 customer. “Listening to records is a fully conscious act.”

As for the people who have not yet crossed over to the “Vinyl Side” and cannot find a certain CD in the store, employees will order anything requested that is still in print.

If a customer decides to cross over to vinyl, often there are digital download codes that come along with currently released vinyl.

“Plan 9 is great because it is a classic record store,” said Andrew Carter, who frequently shops at Plan 9. “It focuses on music first and foremost. Nowhere else can I pick up an original Sam Cooke vinyl as well as a local artist like David Shultz.”

The vinyl trend continues to grow because more customers are dipping their feet into the vinyl record pool.

“I think it’s good that more people are getting back into tangible formats of music,” Thomas said. “There is a wealth of music that exists that is only available on vinyl.”

Visit Plan 9 Music in Carytown at 3012 W. Cary Street, or visit their website at plan9music.com for more information.