Music is an important part of many people’s everyday lives, and in recent years it has become increasingly popular to collect physical copies of albums in the form of vinyl records and CDs. If you’re a fan of retro music, Etown Record Lounge might be a one-stop shop for all of your listening needs.
Located at 9 S. Market Street in downtown Elizabethtown, next to Frugal Finds. The store is within a reasonable walking distance or very quick drive.
However, it is open during unusual hours throughout the week, so depending on your schedule you may have some trouble finding an opportunity to go, especially if your weekends are busy. It’s closed on Mondays and Wednesdays and open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as well as from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
I went with the intention of potentially finding some new music to enjoy in the form of a CD or cassette. I have an older car and the radio does not include Bluetooth or an aux port but it does have a CD and cassette player, so any time I end up at a second-hand store or similar location that sells them, I like to take a look.
The store is fairly small, consisting of only a single room. Even so, they use the space effectively, so there’s plenty to see. The CDs are located to the left of the door on your way in, the cassettes are to the right, and the records line the remaining walls in addition to a full display in the center of the room. There are also some t-shirts and other merch for popular bands near the register at the back of the store and hanging just above the center display.
When looking through the CDs, there was a disproportionately large selection of country and classical music, as well as several albums of Christmas music. The cassettes were mostly from classic rock musicians alongside some acoustic artists. The prices were also quite cheap, with each cassette costing less than $2.
Etown Record Lounge’s selection really shines regarding its collection of vinyls, as suggested by its name. There are albums ranging from classic rock to modern musicals, including a few collectors’ editions on display towards the front of the store.
All of the records are organized in alphabetical order, so it’s easy to navigate the collection and find exactly what you’re looking for. Additionally, if you’re just browsing without anything specific in mind, all of the albums are readily accessible to flip through and see what catches your eye.
The staff is also very inviting and helpful. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, there are plenty more albums held in storage. You can simply ask for assistance, and the cashier can check their computer system to see if it’s available. If the specific record you want doesn’t turn up in a search of their stock, they’re willing to order a copy for you to return and pick up at another time, though it may come with a comparatively higher price tag depending on the cost of having the record shipped.
Overall, I had a nice experience, and I’ll probably be going back when my current favorite songs start to feel a little stale.
