Mount Holly Records

Mount Holly Records fits the quieter side of downtown Mount Holly: a small, unassuming shop that relies more on word of mouth than heavy promotion. The store has been part of the town's business landscape for years, serving regular collectors, first-time visitors discovering Mount Holly, and South Jersey listeners with a taste for punk, metal, jazz, R&B, soul, and funk.

The shop is selective when buying collections, with condition and storage history mattering a lot. Hot attics, musty basements, dusty garages, and long-term pressure warps can turn a clean-looking collection into a harder sell.

Interview with Mount Holly Records

Mount Holly has one of those historic South Jersey downtowns that's been quietly coming back. How does the shop fit into that?

For starters, we're a small unassuming storefront that operates with a minimum amount of fanfare and social media presence. I think that profile in and of itself fits nicely into Mount Holly's business landscape. The local business owners I know seem proudest of their word of mouth successes.

Who comes through: locals, Philly-area diggers, people discovering the town?

Like Mt Holly itself, our diverse consumer demographics are a healthy combination of all of types of shoppers. It's always a feel-good moment when a "regular" customer that you know has thousands of vinyl records finds one or two they don't have. As big advocates for everything Mt Holly, it's always fun to meet with customers experiencing the town for the first time. Feedback about their first impressions are overwhelmingly positive which is great reinforcement of our decision 8 years ago to open our record store where we did.

What do your regulars hunt for most, and what sells in Burlington County that might surprise people?

Our regulars have varied musical tastes. We see many heading toward our Punk/Metal genres but we also have a loyal bunch that enjoy our Jazz selections. Burlington Co has a history rich in their love for R&B, Soul, and Funk. We try to keep these inventories fresh for the regulars.

Which section has been quietly strong lately?

The recent release of the Michael Jackson movie has created a significant uptick in his body of work. Lot's of Thriller, Bad, and Off the Wall have been purchased lately.

Do collections come in with Philadelphia-area history: soul, doo-wop, the radio decades?

Absolutely! Philly Soul is a favorite play in our shop. Of equal interest is the local Rock artists that come in and are able to tell us insider details about certain records we have in inventory. Related, we carry LP inventory for a few local artists/bands like Nick Perri, Billy Aronson, and Either Either.

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

We always suggest that potential sellers start with properly storing their collection. Hot attics, musty basements and dusty garages wreak havoc on vinyl and cardboard sleeves. Additionally, we try to set proper expectations for collection value and often point sellers to online resources to help them do some preliminary research. We're a small shop that needs to aggressively curate which means we just can't buy everything that comes in the door. If the collection is right for our business model, we're honest about it and work with the seller to come to the best price for both of us. In instances where the fit just isn't there, we'll often work with the seller to find an alternate selling channel that they can explore themselves.

What condition problems do sellers most often underestimate?

Warp. Long term storage with weight on top of boxes of records will cause warp conditions making clean looking vinyl unplayable. It's frustrating for sellers who visually determine they have a pristine collection but find out differently when it hits the turntable.

First visit to Mount Holly Records: what should someone check first?

If your taste is in the classics of virtually any genre just hit the inventory in our draws or elevations. We're very organized and if we have it, you can't miss it. If your taste is unique or you just don't see what you're looking for, and this happens a lot, just ask us if we have it in stock. We're able to showcase around 3500 lps in our shop but we also have thousands in secondary inventory which we have electronically cataloged.

FAQ

Does Mount Holly Records buy large collections?

Yes. The shop can evaluate larger collections and may schedule house calls, especially when bringing records into the store is difficult.

What condition range is most useful to the shop?

Mount Holly Records focuses on cleaner records, generally around VG+ and above, and follows Goldmine-style grading standards.

What kinds of collections are most likely to fit?

Rock, jazz, reggae, punk, and heavy metal LP collections are of interest. Picture-sleeve 45s and some artist-specific cassettes may also be considered.

What categories are harder for the shop to buy?

The shop is usually more cautious with classical, folk, pop, and big band when those sections are already well stocked.

Should sellers call ahead?

Yes. Calling or emailing first is recommended, especially for larger collections or anything that may require a scheduled visit.

Last updated: 2026-07-23