Scratched Vinyl

Scratched Vinyl in Barrington rebranded from Rainbow Records in 2018 and buys collections from local sellers. In the interview, the owner explains what changed with the new name, what shows up from northwest suburban collections, and why store credit, donations, and the shop's wider atmosphere all matter.

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Interview with Scratched Vinyl

Scratched Vinyl rebranded from Rainbow Records in 2018 — that's a real thing to do with an existing shop. What was behind the rename, and how would you describe the identity you've built under the new name?

When I purchased Rainbow it was really about acquiring the (mostly used) inventory. The former owner John had some fabulous records in stock, and enough used records to get things started, I knew that the store was going to change considerably, to reflect my personal tastes and belief in the evolving, as well as historic, role of the independent record store. The name Scratched made sense to us since it operates on several levels. DJs scratch records, of course. And no one really wants a scratched record, so there is some intentional irony there. But purchasing the store was really about finding a way to "scratch" my insatiable itch and appetite for new music, and vinyls in particular. Yup, I have the disease so bad that I just bought the whole store.

Barrington is a specific kind of Chicago suburb — northwest, older, its own downtown, real distance from the city. For someone driving out from Chicago or the North Shore for the shop, what else in Barrington Commons or the historic downtown is worth their afternoon?

My neighbor Frantonios, right here in the Commons, is an excellent Italian deli - itself justifying a trip up (or down) here by itself. We also have two great and unique pubs in Barrington - The Yankee Doodle (try the smash burger) and Sundial Brewing. And Kamala's Own is a super righteous incense and vibe store - all of these businesses are walking distance from Scratched.

Buying three collections in a single week is a pace — and it says something about who's in the northwest suburbs and what's sitting in their basements. What does the typical Scratched Vinyl seller actually look like, and what surprises you about the collections that come in?

I get a few different kinds of sellers bringing me collections. By far the predominant character is the 50s-60s+ man who is downsizing (perhaps moving out of town), hasn't listened to his collection in decades, and wants the memories to go to a good home. Sometimes these collections have treasures beyond my wildest fantasies (original Miles Davis or Blue Note jazz releases, complete Frank Zappa catalogs), and sometimes they contain the same, typical vinyls from the era (Fogelberg, Seger, Dave Mason), frequently in less than ideal condition (I won't buy them). Another pretty typical seller found boxes of vinyls when they were cleaning out the house of a recently deceased parent. I get these people in the store with their crates multiple times a week. Usually they are boxes and boxes of lacquer 78s, or the four M's (Mathis, Manilow, Mancini and Mantovani) - all of which I have enough in storage to last many lifetimes. And once in a while I get a younger person who for whatever reason stopped collecting vinyls and is offering up more contemporary artists, which I am almost always excited about putting into my stock.

You've been direct that you don't need more easy listening, soundtracks, country or classical. What's the honest reason for each of those, and how do you have that conversation when a seller shows up with a stack of any of them?

I sincerely tell these folks that I have too much of it, and it doesn't really turnover. I'm not going to bullshit them. Some of the artists I genuinely love, and I share that sentiment (Sinatra, Sammy, some big band), but - and with the exception of Frank - they just don't sell, and I don't need any more backstock. I direct them to the thrift stores.

Buying whole collections — including the 45s and damaged-cover stuff you don't really want — is a specific policy. What made you commit to it, and how do you actually handle the parts you don't sell?

I donate a lot myself to the thrift stores. I find that when people want to sell their collections, they don't want to be left with items that they still need to haul somewhere, and we absolutely dont want the records going into the landfills. So I take everything - its part of the service.

Store credit at 50% more than cash is one of the biggest bumps I've seen. What's the philosophy behind pushing credit that hard?

I want to put music in people's hands more than money. Its win-win. I mean, running a retail independent record store in 2026 is not a way to make money; its a mission, a passion. It has to be - if I wanted to be more profitable, I would sell something else. The margins on new vinyl especially, are ridiculously low. But I remember how I often heard new music first at my local record stores when I was growing up - that's where the mystery and majesty was. And still is. Which is what drives my new vinyl policy - I don't carry a lot of mainstream new vinyl records like what you can get on Amazon or at Target (both of whom sell at my wholesale cost). I want to expose you to something you haven't heard, something new and different perhaps, pushing the comfort zone or simply some band that's not on your radar yet. Running an independent record store is more about being a DJ than a capitalist.

What quietly turns out to be worth more at Scratched Vinyl than sellers expect — a record they'd almost leave off the collection that you're always glad to see?

Certain artists have just aged well, and I always welcome them since they turn over so quickly - Zeppelin, Floyd, Dead, Allman Brothers. And I am always happy to see anything that's just different than what I typically see or have in plentiful stock - 70s and 80s punk, classic jazz (Verve, Blue Note), reggae and world music - I get really excited when I see these in a collection.

You stock books and magazines alongside records — that's a whole extra ecosystem. How do those feed the record side, and what's the wildest thing (record or otherwise) that's come through the door?

I mostly sell vinyl, but I like to augment the store with the smell of the incense, and the vibe of my favorite authors, even if these products aren't huge sellers. There is something special about being surrounded by my literary heroes - Burdett and Murikami and Irvine Welsh and Karl Ove Knausgaard - that just makes for the right environment. And they are conversation starters to be sure!

Last updated: 2026-09-10

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