Legend Records

Legend Records in Mount Gilead is built around high-grade records, deep stock, and the kind of small-town record hunting that can still pull people in from Columbus, Mansfield, Marion, and beyond. The shop's story is personal too: it grew out of a long friendship, a shared building project, and a decision to put the records on the shelf instead of sending the best finds straight to the internet.

Interview with Legend Records

A record shop on Main Street in a town the size of Mount Gilead is a real commitment. What made you decide this was the place for it?

The answer is rather long but is important for accuracy. Tami Russell and I knew each other since we were 5 years old. We lived beside each other in High School. We both went off to college and both got married. Tami and her husband Jeff owned Fargo Herbs and Plants in Marengo. Tami and I were talking about 12 years ago and she said she could sell some records for me at their store. Then tragedy hit and Jeff passed away in his sleep. Tami ended up selling the house and business to Groovy Plants and she moved to Candlewood Lake. About 6 months later she called and wanted to see if I wanted to run a record store in Mt. GILEAD. At the time I lived 4 hours away in Noblesville, Indiana. Tami found a place in Mt. GILEAD and we began renting part of a building from the owner Don Bowen. Years later, Tami bought the building and I helped her get the upstairs remodeled so she could live there.

Who comes through the door: locals, people driving in from Columbus or Mansfield, or both?

We get people from all over the world. However, the dominant group is Marion, Mansfield, Mt. Gilead, and other local towns. We have been drawing more and more people from Columbus area since our collection is huge and our prices are often lower.

What do your regulars hunt for that might surprise someone who's never been to a small-town Ohio record shop?

The regulars really push for heavy metal, blues, classic rock, and hair metal. The suprise is how many Bluegrass and Country records we sell. We often get calls for very obscure albums that are super rare.

Which section has been quietly strong lately, even if it's not what people associate with the store?

While we dominate in Rock we have been selling a little more Jazz and Soul then past years. However, many people are now discovering our large collection of Japanese Press vintage records.

If someone nearby wants to sell records, what's the easiest way to start with you, and what makes a collection an easy yes once you're looking through it?

A phone call or text starts the process. Since we have such a large collection we have become more picky. An easy yes is a high quality grade collection with many bands we do not see often.

What condition problems do sellers around here most often underestimate?

We clean and grade almost every album. We also test play lots of records if they may have an issue. We really focus on high grade and clean vinyl. People underestimate the time and energy it takes to clean and price inventory.

Is there a record, collection, or customer story that captures what Legend Records is about?

Legend Records is about high grade records at a reasonable price. We have historically spent more on massive collections than people realize. The goal was to be a place that has records you cant find anywhere else. Our stuff goes on the shelf not on the internet. That is a big seperator.

Someone's passing through Mount Gilead and spots the shop. What should convince them to stop?

We have a huge building and a quick look on the internet shows we have a highly ranked store. We earned that reputation from being a wonderful place to find gold.

Last updated: 2026-07-28