In the Groove Records Opens for Vinyl Lovers on Glenwood South

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The death of the brick and mortar record shop has long been discussed and just this past Sunday the New York Times profiled Barnes and Noble and how hardcover books are the "the ones that the doomsayers proclaim — with glee or dread — will go the way of vinyl records." Greg Rollins, owner of In the Groove Records, would have something to say about this statement. In a year where digital services like Last FM, Spotify, Google Music, Amazon and iTunes are ruling the top of the music scene, it would seem crazy to open up a vinyl-only record store. Yet Rollins sees a gap in the local music market that he can fill with his new shop. 

In the Groove Records opened on January 18th and is located in Suite #22 of the Carter Building on Glenwood South. A carpenter by trade, Rollins has been considering opening a used record store for a long time but recently a space opened up in the building and he decided to go for it. He has been working out of the Carter Building for years and jumped at the opportunity.

Rollins is a vinyl collector and hopes to provide a service to local music enthusiasts and record collectors that other local shops don't provide. Talking to Rollins on Sunday afternoon while thumbing through his large stash of records, he told me how many record stores put the high valued vinyls that come into their shops on Ebay and therefore never see the record bin. Rollins wants to do the opposite, putting collectible records on display and available for purchase without a computer or possibly rigged bidding process like Ebay.

Since opening just a week ago, a handful of locals have already come in and filled in gaps in their collection. "A guy just came in today and found a record he had been looking for for years," Rollins said. It's this love of the media and helping others that is what sparked Rollins to open that shop. Trying to decide between the Stereo and Mono versions of Velvet Underground that are on display? Ask Rollins and he'll put the records on for you to listen to while you browse. It's a nice one on one relationship that reminded me of the vendors in the Notting Hill Market in London. They are there every week and will go searching for a record for you. Rollins hopes to do the same, helping find rare records or just a good play copy of an album that you currently have that skips. While the shop won't have sell new records, In the Groove hopes to start selling vinyl from Triangle and North Carolina bands to help support the local music scene.

In the Groove Records is Buy, Sell and Trade so you can bring in records that you don't want and Rollins will find a home for them, giving you something in return (maybe a Stooges remastered album, a marbled promotional copy of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love or the Raegan bashing Ramones single Bonzo Goes to Bitburg). As well, Rollins hopes to connect folks with rare collections to buyers. While he may not be into your classical record collection, he probably knows someone that would be. In the Groove hopes to expand in the future and Rollins and I chatted about a common interest of ours, a record / coffee shop. "It's been on my mind for years," he told me "and as soon as I can expand, I want to do something just like that." In the Groove will soon sell record players and other supplies as well. Expect the bins to continue to fill up and don't be surprised when you find that rare first pressing you've been searching for.

Rollins and I chatted about sound quality, the vinyl resurgence and how after both listening to an early album by The Springfields, we both prefer Dusty's solo work. Check out In the Groove Records, it's a great addition to our constantly growing music scene (venues and retail). Between Schoolkids, Ed McKay, Nice Price, Father and Son, Reader's Corner and the new vendor at The Chesire Cat in Cameron Village, Raleigh's has a large selection of places to buy used records. Every time I go by each of these vendors, it seems like they are expanding. Despite the assumption that things are going the way of the record, it seems like the record is going the way of the future. 

In the Groove Records

Specializing in Used LP's

Buy Sell Trade

14 Glenwood Ave South, Raleigh NC 27603

Suite #22, In the Carter Building

W-F: 11am - 6pm

Sat-Sun: 12pm - 5pm

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