Jesse Carl Vinyl

Jesse Carl Vinyl is an independent record shop in downtown Lakeland, Florida, serving a city that sits between Tampa and Orlando but has built its own record-collecting community. The shop is affiliated with Record Store Day and carries LPs, CDs, cassettes, music books, posters, cleaning accessories, and a growing K-Pop section.

The interview below adds local context from owner Jessi Zilka: what Lakeland collectors ask for, how the shop handles used collections, and why Florida storage conditions matter so much for vinyl.

Interview with Jesse Carl Vinyl

Lakeland sits between Tampa and Orlando, which usually means getting overlooked. What does having a real record shop mean for the town?

Being able to cultivate a community of record collectors that doesn't require an hour-long commute is a huge achievement for Lakeland. And over the past 10 years that we've been a business, Lakeland itself has grown at an insane pace. To the point that many people in Tampa and Orlando travel to us to shop just as much as Lakelanders travel there. We're also the first indie record store in Lakeland to be affiliated with Record Store Day—that means we have opportunities to do listening parties, midnight releases, and the standard April/November RSD events. While the collecting community is divided on the importance of Record Store Day, we've seen it be a HUGE benefit to us. Not only in its aid toward the growth of our business, but the bonds formed by folks who line up for these events. I've witnessed people build friendships over the years because of their times participating in RSD here at Jesse Carl Vinyl, and that's something so special. Lakeland is full of unique people that love music, and the town has hosted several incredible record stores over the years. We just hope that Jesse Carl Vinyl can be counted among historic former local businesses like Woodpecker Records or Evolution Records, and that people will see us as a cornerstone of the community.

Who comes through — locals, students, I-4 corridor diggers?

We have such a variety of people coming through our doors! Because we're a college town (there are four colleges in Lakeland) and we're only an hour from the west coast beaches and the east coast theme parks, we get people from all over the world walking in to shop with us. Most of the customers are localized to those in Polk county, but we often get families in for vacation or visiting their kids in college. We truly never know who is going to walk into those doors, but we always love hearing people's stories of how they found themselves in Lakeland and in our shop. We especially love when folks come back to Lakeland and make us a must-stop location on their return visits!

What do your regulars hunt for most — and what sells in Lakeland that might surprise people?

One of my favorite things about our customer base is that their taste is so varied. Rock of all varieties is our bread and butter, as it is with most record stores. But our shoppers are also snagging soul, funk, hip-hop, jazz, soundtracks, and more. I think what surprises us the most is the overturn of jazz albums we have. When we put some solid ones out, they're bought up almost instantly. Lakeland loves jazz—that's never something I would have predicted, but it's so refreshing to see!

Which section has been quietly strong lately?

You know, our country section has really been blossoming lately. I recently sold a Buck Owens album to a 14 year old kid. A 20-something year old came in and flipped out finding Marty Robbins' Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. He claimed it was his favorite album of all time! The older generations have always reached for the classic country, but seeing these younger customers eat up these staple albums of the genre has been so interesting to watch. It's helped our section grow as we look harder for those classics in used collections or when we're ordering reissues.

Do collections come in with old Florida history — records that have been in local homes since the citrus decades?

Some definitely do! Because Florida is such a catch-all when it comes to its population, we get stories of all kinds. It's when we get "local favorites" such as Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, or Gram Parsons that the stories can roll in. Maybe they went to UF around the time Tom Petty was playing the clubs up in Gainesville or they went to high school with Gram Parsons. I had a guy come in and sell me some Prince records once that did the lighting for our local civic center in the 1980s and had been living in Lakeland most of his life—turns out he did the lighting for the two music videos Prince shot in our Lakeland Civic Center. You just never know what sort of stories you'll hear as collections cross your path.

If someone wants to sell records, what's the best first step — and what makes a collection an easy yes?

Many people today see records of any variety and think, "instant money." Frankly, that's rarely the case. Whether you're selling to a record store or whether you're looking to become a seller yourself, you have to realize that not all albums are the same. The first step, if I had to pick one, would be to adjust your expectations before you begin the process. If you walk into a record store with a bunch of items that would go in every budget bin across the country thinking you've landed on a goldmine, you'll walk away sorely disappointed. At the same time, if you have highly rare albums, realize that record stores can't afford to pay retail value for your pieces. We have to earn something off these items too. If we paid everyone top dollar while seeing multiple collections a day, we'd have to shut our doors. If your expectations are already adjusted, and you've somewhat familiarized yourself with what you have, your selling experience will likely be better. You'll walk away with a dollar amount in the range you had hoped, and the transaction will feel smooth and easy.

A collection is an easy yes if it has the following...

• Interesting, varied titles: whether they're meat and potato types or more unique rarities, having a good variety is always key. It can cover a lot of ground for us as store merchandisers looking to bring in both familiar and rare items on to our shelves.
• Titles in good condition: you could have 10 copies of Dark Side of the Moon, but if the covers are falling apart and the wax looks like it's been thrown under a truck, the answer will be no. Buyers are looking for solid cover condition with wax hosting the least amount of wear as possible. Not all buyers are looking for ONLY mint items, but we ARE looking for items in sturdy shape that will satisfy our customers and play well on a turntable.
• A smart seller: Nothing will make me say no quicker than a seller who can't meet me where I am and understand my point of view. When I have someone who gets what it means to resell, and can work with me on matching a price we both feel is satisfactory, I'll almost always get the collection. A good attitude gets you a long way in this industry, and that applies to the purchasing transactions too.

What does Florida heat and humidity do to collections stored the wrong way?

Oh, our heat can definitely cause havoc on collections, particularly if they're not stored in the AC. On occasion, people can store them in garages, sheds, and attics and they survive...but it's rare. When living in Florida, it's imperative that collections be stored first and foremost in a temperature controlled environment. If not, you'll likely see varied warping. Heat also attracts bugs like roaches, and roaches LOVE paper and cardboard. Storing LPs in a hot garage or shed will likely lead to your albums being chewed on by bugs. Another thing that people in Florida have to be mindful of is water. We get hurricanes, heavy summer rains, and are surrounded by bodies of water constantly. I've seen so many collections walk through that were stored in a garage or shed that flooded or had water brought into it by car tires. These albums get moldy, they get water logged, and it causes a mess. Never store your records in a place where the albums can be impacted by the elements outside. Treat them with care by letting them be in the AC, neatly stored!

First visit to Jesse Carl Vinyl — what should someone check first?

While we pride ourselves on having a varied selection of LPs, CDs, and cassettes, our regulars would tell you that our "new arrivals" LP section is the spot to hit first. It's where all our fresh inventory rests for a bit before finding their way into our various bins. It's a mixture of all genres and is updated every Saturday. We also have a very strong CD section, given the size of our store. We've seen a massive uptick in CD sales in the past year, and we recently did a huge expansion on our selection. We also carry things such as posters, music-related books, cleaning accessories, and our newest section: K-Pop! There's a little something for everyone here at Jesse Carl Vinyl!

FAQ

Does Jesse Carl Vinyl buy used records?

Yes. The shop buys used records, but sellers should go in with realistic expectations: common budget-bin records and rare collectible records are handled very differently, and the store needs room to resell at a fair margin.

What makes a collection more likely to be accepted?

Jesse Carl Vinyl looks for interesting, varied titles in good condition. Solid covers, clean playable vinyl, and a seller who understands resale pricing all make the process easier.

What genres are especially important at the shop?

Rock is a core section, but customers also buy soul, funk, hip-hop, jazz, soundtracks, country, CDs, cassettes, and more. Jazz and classic country have both been notably strong with Lakeland shoppers.

What should Florida sellers know before bringing in records?

Heat, humidity, bugs, storms, and water damage can seriously hurt records stored in garages, sheds, or attics. Collections kept in air conditioning and protected from moisture are much more promising.

What should a first-time visitor check first?

The new-arrivals LP section is the best first stop. It is updated every Saturday and holds fresh inventory before it moves into the main bins.

Last updated: 2026-07-14