Hunky Dory

Hunky Dory’s Durham shop sits on 9th Street, but owner Michael Bell answered with the wider Triangle picture in mind. Across the group’s shops, the bins shift week by week: hip hop can disappear fast, used metal has been especially strong in Cary, and local artists get space through consignment and listening parties.

Interview with Hunky Dory

The Triangle is students, longtime locals, and music lifers all in one place. How does that mix land in your bins?

Lots and lots of variety. Between our four shops in RDU, there is a wide mix at of records at each.

Does Durham ask for different things than Raleigh, Cary, or Apex?

Each week it's something different at all the shops, which some artists depleted and needing restock. Which artists just depends on what folks are into at the time. Hip hop tends to sell out faster an any other genre and it doesn't matter if it's at our oldest location in Durham or our newest location in Apex.

Which section of the shop has surprised you most since opening?

Cary has gotten in more USED metal and hard rock in compared to the other shops combined. Why? I have no idea. But it moves, and moves quick.

Are there North Carolina artists or labels you are always glad to see come through?

NC has a lot of talent. We try to support any local artists who comes through by buying records on consignment, holdling listening parties to get the word out, and just giving them a place to showcase their talents. We'll sometimes see some really popular artists flipping through the bins as well, but we let them be.

When someone wants to sell records, what should they know before contacting you, and what matters most when you are deciding?

Quality over commons. We pre-price drop-offs, so there's full transparency. Since we pay 50 percent retail, we don't have any trouble in getting more and more stock.

Do you get more full collections, small trade-ins, or people bringing in local finds?

We get tons of drop-offs each week to our shops, a mix of folks getting rid of collections passed on, audiophilers getting rid of duplicates, and tons from younger kids just dumping stuff they don't listen to anymore.

How do you make the shop welcoming for someone brand new to vinyl without boring the serious diggers?

Always having a variety in the bins. Am I into Gracie Abrams? No. But a ton of our customers are. We pay attention to each section to see what is moving best. And we order accordingly. Our staffers have insanely good taste, far better than me:)

First visit to Hunky Dory: what is the must-check section?

The treasure trove is packed. You'll find some serious heat in the trove, with prices that are actually cheaper than Discogs AND you don't have to pay shipping.

Last updated: 2026-07-27