Ernie November's

Ernie November's Rapid City location opened in 1987, four years after the company started under a name meant to stand out rather than lock the shop into one narrow identity. The store still reads that way: rock, classic rock, jazz, blues, punk, hardcore, psych, indie, death and black metal, CDs, LPs, and the kind of odd record-counter stories that stick.

Interview with Ernie November

Ernie November's a distinctive name — where does it come from, and how long has the shop been part of Rapid City?

One of the former owners was a poet and this was his pen name. In 1983 when the 3 original owners were naming the business, they wanted something that would stand out and not pigeon hold them to any specific identity so instead of calling it "Steve's Records" they went with Ernie November. This location (Rapid City SD) was opened in 1987 and is the 2nd store in our company. We have 2 more - Billings MT (est 1993) and Cheyenne WY (est 1996).

You focus tightly on rock, classic rock, jazz and blues from the mid-60s through the 80s — how did that window become the store's identity?

Most likely from the employees over the years and their tastes in music as well as who gravitated towards us as customers. We've always been the fringe store and still are. We also have an excellent selection of death & black metal, punk in all of its factions, hardcore, modern psych, indie, and more.

What's the most valuable or memorable record that's come through the buying counter?

We've recently bought the Metallica "Master Of Puppets" and "Justice For All" super deluxe box sets as far as valuable goes but the most memorable is probably the Charles Manson "Sick City" 7" that allegedly comes with a piece of Susan Adkin's 1968 skirt, sand where she laid, a zine & order form. Bizarre and cool to say the least.

You buy every day until 6 except Sundays with no limit on collection size — what does a big buy day look like from your side?

A few hundred titles maybe. We've bought over a thousand at a time as well as a few estate sales. Last year we bought a 7K piece estate.

Rapid City sits near the Black Hills, off most record-store maps — who comes through, and what's the local scene like?

Unfortunately like most cities in the country, the DIY spots have dried up over the last 20 years. RC was thriving in the late 80s/early 90s as a stop for bands between Minneapolis/Denver/Omaha/Billings. The current local scene is a fraction of what it once was due to this dilemma. We have a handful of bands across DIY genres here. There are a few places to "rent" for the night but nothing that consists of a "club" or "Hall". Our local spot closed abruptly In May. We have a civic center but that would be for much larger artists. If any bands are looking to book here, I'd suggest reaching out the to Rapid City Punk Board on facebook. Rapid City Punk Community Message Board

You don't take country, easy listening or big band — how often does that surprise sellers, given where you are?

Not very often I wouldn't think. Our entire shop screams the polar opposite so when someone comes in with stacks of those genres, it's very easy to explain that's just not our clientele. I do find it somewhat amusing that you'd think that is what would largely sell in SD. This is a huge tourist spot (we are 25 miles from MT Rushmore) so we get all walks and shades in town daily from all over the world plus our town is about 100k but has a 200 mile shopping radius as well. We are an island geographically but have plenty of pulse on the outside world.

Store credit pays more than cash — how do you explain that to first-timers?

"You get a better rate than cash because it's staying in the store but I understand if you need the money"

Do you buy 45s and 78s, or is the mid-60s–80s focus mostly about LPs?

No 45's or 78s. I'd say mid 60s to 2026. We sell new & used CDS & LPS pretty much neck and neck. We have thousands of new and thousand of used on both formats.

Should sellers clean records first, and what condition issues most affect your offer?

Yes, of course. This is a good idea for any seller. The cover art isn't as important as the disc itself but can't be trashed. We guarantee anything going out of our store so we just pass if its too beat up.

What do people most often misjudge about what their collection is worth?

Using EBAY as their source. Also knowing nothing about specific pressings of records. Just because it's decades old does not mean it's worth a fortune by any means.

Last updated: 2026-08-04

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