The Nevermind Shop

The Nevermind Shop is a long-running record shop in Upton, Massachusetts, with roots that go back to its earlier name, Flashbacks. The shop has built a regional following between Worcester and Boston's outer suburbs, carrying records across genres along with other media and music-related items.

In this interview, Mick Lawless talks about why the shop settled in Upton, what brings collectors in from around New England, and what sellers should know before bringing in a collection.

Interview with The Nevermind Shop

The Nevermind Shop — the name carries a certain 1991 energy. Is that the right read?

The former name was "Flashbacks," around 1996 we changed it to represent a broader horizon and not be stigmatized to only "hippie culture".....Nevermind was perfect because it not only gave us a more modern approach, it also compliments all of the other items other than media....nevermind this....we also do this...and this.

Upton is a small town in that stretch between Worcester and Boston's outer suburbs. What made it the right place for a record shop?

Plain and simple,we took a chance at Upton because it was affordable and close to home,..we've carved out our fan base over the last 18 years.

Who comes through — locals, people detouring off 495, collectors who found you online?

In this day and age of the record store it is a certainty that aside from.our regular patrons people will go.out of thier way to shop.for vinyl, we literally have people come from all around newcengland to our little Upton shop,our reviews are 5 star and we've coined the catch phrase "its worth the trip!"

What do your customers hunt for most — and does the shop's taste lean where the name suggests?

The Upton shop has every genre of music,...personally my forte is early new wave, but the shop has been getting well known for its Jazz selection and of course we carry current day popular artist,..we hold no boundaries here as we try to have something for everyone.

Which section has been quietly strong lately?

Good question,...as of the writing of this answer our steely dan section is and has been getting ravaged....other strong selling artists have been Mitski, Olivia Rodrigo and of course Taylor Swift.

If someone wants to sell records, what's the best first step — and what makes a collection worth getting excited about?

To sell to us you just have to make an appointment, we have a pretty strict criteria,...we dont usually accept records "pre British Invasion before 1964 and co edition always dictates price.

What condition problems show up most in the collections you see?

Many times condution issues seem to stem from the genre of music, its common to find a heavy metal collection scarred and scratched and well loved, people partied to theese records and well fet real excited to see records in this genre that come in clean,...weve noticed prog and jazz, guys treat thier stuff like gold....its mostly a demographic situation.

First visit to The Nevermind Shop — what should someone know going in?

A first time visitor to our Upton shop will encounter a pleasant old school vibe with a surprisingly vast array of music on all mediums from every genre and a super k owledvable and friendly staff.

FAQ

What kind of music does The Nevermind Shop carry?

The shop carries records across genres, with early new wave as a personal specialty for Mick, a strong jazz reputation, and current popular artists also represented.

Does The Nevermind Shop buy used records?

Yes. Sellers should make an appointment first. The shop has fairly strict buying criteria, and condition plays a major role in pricing.

What records does the shop usually avoid?

According to the shop, it usually does not accept many pre-British Invasion records from before 1964.

What condition issues matter most?

Condition varies by collection and genre. The shop often sees heavily played metal records, while prog and jazz collections may arrive in cleaner condition.

What should a first-time visitor expect?

Visitors can expect an old-school shop atmosphere, a wide range of music across formats and genres, and staff who know the inventory well.

Last updated: 2026-07-14