When we imagine the classic record stores of the ’70s and ’80s, we picture plenty of vinyl, cassettes, stereo equipment and band posters – a gathering place for the musically obsessed and fringe artists of the time. While several of those stores endured – some by adapting to the times and selling CDs, DVDs and collectibles, others on the sheer will of the ownership and dedicated patrons – many disappeared from the American retail landscape altogether.
In the blink of an eye, we had moved into the digital age and all but forgotten our rich culture of physical music media. Enter the vinyl resurgence of the mid-2000s, which birthed a whole new generation of wax-loving collectors, some of who went on to create their own versions of the iconic record store from the past. Jonathan Napier and Molly, co-owners of Nail City Record (NCR) in downtown Wheeling, are part of this revival, and they are doing a lot more than just selling records.
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