Record Store Day 2026: Brooklyn and Queens Indie Stores Report Record Sales, Swift and Grateful Dead Lead Demand

Across the United States, many legacy indie music stores reported record-breaking sales during this year’s Record Store Day (RSD 2026) on April 18. Retail Track conducted its annual RSD store crawl, visiting ten stores in Brooklyn and Queens to assess the event’s impact firsthand.

A Shift in Location for the Crawl

Unlike previous years, when the crawl began in locations such as Poughkeepsie and Patchogue, this year’s journey focused solely on the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The day culminated at Rough Trade in Rockefeller Center, known for its annual Indie Plaza event.

Retail Track commenced the day at Pancakes Records in Astoria, Queens, arriving just before 7:30 a.m. By the time the store opened at 8 a.m., a line of 60 eager customers had formed, including Kyle, who arrived at 1 a.m. and sought to purchase Laufey’s A Matter Of Time: Live at Madison Square Garden and Pink Pantheress’s Girl Like Me. Jose, who arrived at 2:30 a.m., was second in line, hoping to secure records from Paramore, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Dijon.

Vinyl Veritas: A New Contender

After Pancakes Records, Retail Track headed to Vinyl Veritas, which opened its flagship location in 2024. Despite a traffic delay caused by an overturned vehicle on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Retail Track arrived by 8:30 a.m. to find a line of about 50 customers. Will Grandberg, the store owner, later reported that two customers had lined up by midnight, with a dozen waiting by 5 a.m.

Vinyl Veritas features two locations within the same building, offering refreshments and live DJ performances throughout the day. Grandberg noted that the store experienced its best sales day since opening, with the Grateful Dead set being the top seller. He expressed a desire for more inventory of Carly Rae Jepsen’s Disco Darling.

Park Slope Stops: 5th Avenue Records and Psychic Records

Retail Track then visited 5th Avenue Records in Park Slope, arriving at 9:05 a.m. to find no line. After a brief stop at Smith’s Tavern, Retail Track proceeded to Psychic Records, where a line of 15 customers awaited the store’s 11 a.m. opening. Henry, first in line, sought Stax B-sides and a Ray Charles live set, while Peyton, second in line, aimed for Taylor Swift and Steely Dan records.

Chris Lentz, the owner of Psychic Records, later confirmed that Sonic Youth’s Diamond Seas was a significant seller, alongside several copies of Springsteen and Pink Floyd albums. He noted the store’s diverse customer base, catering to fans from Taylor Swift to Throbbing Gristle.

Sterling Records: Early Openings and Strong Sales

Retail Track’s next stop was Sterling Records, which opened early at 9:15 a.m. Gary Giddens, the store owner, reported about 30 people in line at opening. By 10 a.m., popular titles included releases from The Cure, Pink Floyd, and Jeff Buckley. Giddens later mentioned that these titles sold out by noon, alongside other successful releases like Olivia Dean’s BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.

VP Records: A Celebration of Community

Retail Track then traveled to VP Records in Jamaica, Queens, arriving at 11 a.m. The store, part of a Jamaican-born record label, was bustling with activity as preparations for the RSD festivities began. Store manager Rashan Mykoo announced that the event would feature merchandise tables and performances from local artists, including I Wayne and Buju Banton.

Chris Chin, CEO of VP Records, emphasized the importance of community engagement through the sound system showcases, stating that the event would be memorable.

Rebel Rouser and Superior Elevation Records

Retail Track continued to Rebel Rouser, which opted not to participate in RSD due to its focus on local indie bands and used records. Sales associate William Martin explained that their approach to Record Store Day involved promoting local artists rather than corporate releases.

At Superior Elevation Records, also in Bushwick, the store catered to DJs and dance music enthusiasts. Sales associate Alex Feldherr noted that business was good, as many customers sought refuge from long lines at other stores.

Greenpoint’s Unique Offerings

In Greenpoint, Record Grouch opted out of the official RSD celebration but remained busy with patrons browsing its curated selection of rarities. Academy Records Annex also thrived, offering free donuts while showcasing a mix of new and used vinyl.

Owner Cory Feierman explained that he stopped participating in RSD due to the high costs associated with the event, despite its initial appeal.

Final Stops and Sales at Pancakes Records

Retail Track concluded the day back at Pancakes Records, arriving at 3:30 p.m. Co-owner Tanya Gorbunova reported strong sales, with John Frusciante’s To Only Record Water For Ten Days and Ethel Cain’s Inbred among the top sellers. She mentioned that while Springsteen and Pink Floyd titles were slow movers, she was not concerned.

Retail Track’s final purchase of the day included Robert Plant’s Savin Grace: All That Glitters with Suzi Dian. However, the day ended without securing four sought-after RSD titles.

As reported by www.billboard.com.

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Published on 2026-04-29 02:14:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk