West Chester, Get Ready to Jam. It’s Record Store Day!

*Hop Fidelity and West Chester’s four other record stores are pulling out all the stops for Record Store Day.*

Do you know what doesn’t care if it rains? Record Store Day 2025. (Unless you are waiting outside for a store to open.)

“The first Record Store Day occurred in 2008. Its purpose was to celebrate local record shops and bring attention to the independent record stores,” May 23 owner Stephen Riek tells me. In addition to a collection of fun t-shirts and novelty candles, May 23, on W. Gay St., is one of five record stores in town, three within a block of each other.

While Record Store Day started with the simple idea of getting out and buying local, like most things marketing gets a hold of, it has grown. There are now exclusive album releases that you can only get on Record Store Day, and only in person.

Exclusive Releases: RSD Meat & Potatoes

“The releases have basically become the meat and potatoes of the event these days,” says Hop Fidelity owner Byron Greatorex. This year, there are thousands of releases, everything from A-list pop stars like Taylor Swift (she’s issued a 7” white vinyl of Fortnight) and Post Malone (this year’s RSD Ambassador) to Black Stone Cherry, which has only pressed 750 copies of This is Black Stone Cherry’s RSD Album.

“In a culture where everything is available instantly, you actually have to wait in line and there’s no guarantee you’ll get what you’re hoping for,” says Byron. He reports that some years, the line has started as early as 4 a.m.

While the releases are a big piece, it’s not just about exclusivity. RSD is also about a community of like-minded people and a love of sound.

“I’ve had customers meet each other for the first time in the line while waiting, and they’ve become good friends since,” says Byron.

Jason Schafer, owner of Electric Avenue in Cambridge Square Shopping Center on E. Gay St., agrees. “The point is to celebrate and continue supporting independent record shops, the lifeblood of the music world,” he says. “Here, fans congregate, make new connections, and support their favorite artists in tangible ways. Plus, records just SOUND better.” (Who saw that last comment coming?)

Record Store Day Events

In total, roughly 1400 independent record stores across the country will participate on Saturday, including four here (May 23 is not an official RSD store – yet – but they do have around 3000 titles in stock, so still well worth a browse).

Hop Fidelity has a full day planned. In addition to a large selection of RSD exclusive releases, they have collaborated with Artillery Brewing on an RSD beer. “The Orange Peel Sessions” is a pale ale conditioned with orange peel and is only available at Hop Fidelity. Doors open at 8 a.m. with free pours until noon, and a DJ spinning – you guessed it – an all-vinyl set from 4 p.m. to close.

Electric Avenue also opens at 8 a.m. and will have special giveaways for the first people in line in addition to one of the largest selections of RSD titles in Chester County.

Creep Records, on Gay St.,will also have a selection of exclusive titles as well as discounts on records and clothing.

It’s all going to be a little different. Which is kind of the point.

“Get to your favorite shop Saturday and show them some love,” says Jason. “Hopefully, it helps whichever shop get through another year of the ups and downs.”

This story was part of a longer West Chester newsletter featuring all the news and events of the week. Curious what else is going on? Subscribe now to get the full story. New issues come out on Fridays!