Uptown Records is thriving as young music fans embrace vinyl, making it their busiest holiday season yet
Alan, who’s 67, believes this retro trend is all thanks to the younger generation wanting something tangible. He’s created a cozy, old-school vibe at Uptown Records, and it seems to be hitting the right note.
He mentioned that while kids love streaming music, they also want to own record players and experience music in a more hands-on way. It’s all about the nostalgia, and Alan thinks this trend is here to stay.
The shop, located in Baytree Garden Centre, is a treasure trove with over 200,000 records and 25,000 CDs. Alan started this journey after losing his father and brother, using his inheritance to follow his passion for music.
He’s proud of how far Uptown Records has come since its early days. They’ve been at their current location for about five years, and this past Christmas was their busiest yet.
Alan loves meeting musicians and fans who come through the door, and he’s had some pretty cool visitors, including famous guitarists. The shop even got a boost from local council grants, helping them keep that vintage look alive.
Excitingly, Uptown Records will be featured on BBC Two’s Celebrity Antique Road Trip soon, thanks to their Jimi Hendrix exhibition. Alan is a bit nervous about how it’ll turn out, but he’s thrilled about the attention.
As they gear up to celebrate ten years in business this April, Alan feels honored to be recognized as one of the best record shops in the world. It’s been quite the ride, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
