The vinyl collector bug bit Isaac Smith hard after he asked his parents for a turntable on his 13th birthday. After acquiring a few thousand records since that pivotal moment in 2015, the Bettendorf native recently opened a record store of his own in North Liberty. Zig Zog’s Records is the realization of a pipe […]
Record store
Posted inCentral Iowa
Hunt for golden records in Marshalltown’s sprawling vinyl palace, Wax Xtatic
Wax Xtatic Record Audio Stereo Shop in Marshalltown holds easily one of the largest inventories of new vinyl in Central Iowa, as well as the cleanest used vinyl section I’ve ever seen. Owned, organized and operated by John Blaubaum, the Marshalltown staple survived a mid-pandemic move in 2021 to its new space on Main Street. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa’s record stores remain community hubs, weathering ups and downs in the vinyl market
For the music industry, 2021 was definitely a memorable year. With concerts and live entertainment essentially on ice for much of the year, consumers pivoted, directing their expendable income to physical products instead, resulting in a landmark year for record stores. Variety reported in March that 2021 marked the first year since 1996 that both […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Record Collector adapts to the new normal, prepares for three Record Store Days
Since 1982 Record Collector has been a hub for Iowa City’s music-loving community. When founder and original owner Kirk Walther passed away back in 2017, many vinyl enthusiasts worried whether Iowa City would lose this sacred place where they could dig through crates of old jazz records, pick up the newest release of their favorite […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
There’s something special about record stores
For those who view music as a vital necessity like food and shelter, being without Iowa City’s longtime institution the Record Collector leaves a gaping hole in the soul. “A record store isn’t really a record store without customers,” said co-owner Alissa Witzke. “It feels empty and sad, like we’re just a warehouse.” The store […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Long live vinyl: ‘Record Store Day’ recommendations from the Staff of the Record Collector
This Saturday marks the seventh annual Record Store Day, an international celebration of independent record stores. Observed on the third…
