Record Store Day, like so many events, will look very different this year.
The annual event usually brings out music fans to record stores nationwide to score special releases and rare vinyl. After being postponed from its usual April date due to COVID-19, it will now take the form of three separate drops in August, September, and October.
The first of those begins this Saturday, August 29. In addition to the day’s special releases, including a John Prine box set, a 50th anniversary edition of Al Green’s Green Is Blues, and more, many local stores are stocking up on hand sanitizer and latex gloves, and taking new safety precautions.
We’ve rounded up the stores that are participating this year in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. All stores are requiring face masks while shopping, and their plans are subject to change for the September and October drops. This post will be updated with additional stores’ plans.
D.C.
Joint Custody
1530 U Street NW
The shop will be open from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m., and will only allow four customers inside at a time.
Smash! Records
2314 18th Street NW
Unlike past years, browsing will be confined four stations specially stocked with Record Store Day titles. Five people will be allowed inside at a time, and are asked to wear gloves while shopping, which the store will provide. The shop will open at 11 a.m. and close at 9:30 p.m.
Som Records
1843 14th Street NW
No more than four customers allowed in the shop at a time. The store will be open from noon to 6 p.m., and gloves will be provided.
Songbyrd Music House
2477 18th Street NW
From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., the store will operate on an appointment-only basis to allow for social distancing, and titles will be limited to one copy per person. Appointments are sold out, but they will welcome walk-up customers in the afternoon. Songbyrd will also host a special outdoor screening of the documentary Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll Magazine at 8 p.m. Reservations are available via their Facebook page.
Maryland
CDepot
9039 Baltimore Ave, College Park
The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Record Store Day titles will be limited to one per person.
Joe’s Record Paradise
8700 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring
The shop will be open from noon to 8 p.m. The store will allow 14 customers inside at a time, and while it won’t be stocking special Record Store Day titles, owner Johnson Lee will be selling some vinyl from his own classic rock collection from his days as a DJ, in addition to their usual selection.
Memory Lane CDs and Records
2809 Walters Lane, District Heights
The store won’t be stocking special Record Store Day titles, but will be offering discounts on its regular merchandise. The shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is requesting customers wear gloves, though hand sanitizer will also be provided.
Purple Narwhal Music & Manga
326-B N. Stonestreet Avenue, Rockville
Employees will meet customers at the door and give them a ticket with a number and time to come back to so they can shop one customer or family at a time. Hand sanitizer will be provided to shoppers as they enter, and the store will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Record Exchange
8642 Colesville Road, Silver Spring
The shop will offer half-hour appointments for five people at a time starting at 9 a.m. Customers can email RXRSD20@gmail.com to reserve a slot. Appointments are first-come, first-served in the order the emails are received, and the shop will be disinfecting between groups. Customers are asked to wear latex gloves while browsing, which the store will provide if they don’t have their own. At 1:30 p.m., the store will be open for business as usual until 6 p.m.
Red Onion Records
4208 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville
The shop, which is open from noon until 6 p.m., won’t be stocking many Record Store Day titles, but will have its usual selection of records, books, tapes, and more, and may do a small sidewalk sale, weather-permitting. Five customers are allowed inside at a time.
Sonidos! Music & More
11011-B Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville
The store will be offering half-hour appointments from noon to 6 p.m., and will allow two people inside the shop at a time. They won’t be stocking special Record Store Day titles, but will offer discounts on their existing selection and will be hiding a handful of gift certificates in some of those records. Customers can call (240) 366-6886, email sonidos.musicshop@gmail.com, or reach out via social media to make an appointment.
Virginia
Crooked Beat Records
802 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria
From 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., the store will allow 10 customers in at a time, and will be taking temperatures at the door.
Mobius Records
10409 Main Street, Suite D, Fairfax
Customers can order menu-style by choosing from a list of what is still available when it’s their turn in line. Six people will be allowed inside the store at a time. The shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and customers are asked to limit browsing during the early part of the day. Titles are limited to one per person.
Record & Rarities
6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield
The store will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. While in line, customers outside will be given a sheet to note the Record Store Day titles they’re looking for, and employees will start putting their orders together. Eight people will be allowed inside at a time, and are asked to spend no more than 25 minutes shopping.
CD Cellar
105 Park Avenue, Falls Church
The shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and are limiting occupancy to 25 people at a time. Record Store Day titles are limited to one copy per customer.
This story has been updated to reflect a change to ticketing for Songbyrd’s screening of Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll Magazine, to correct CD Cellar’s occupancy restrictions, and to correct Purple Narwhal’s ticketing plan.
