On the Record

On the Record in Woodbury is a community-minded South Jersey shop with used records, used CDs, books, live music, and a name tied to the owner's background as a longtime news reporter.

Interview with On the Record

On the Record is a warm name for a shop - plainspoken. Being on S Broad in Woodbury puts you in a specific corner of South Jersey. In your own words, what's the shop actually like, and how did it end up in Woodbury?

First, our name came about because I was a longtime news reporter here in South Jersey, and considering my professional background, the name seemed perfect. My wife, Michelle Kinsman, is co-owner of the shop.

We look at our shop as a community hub as much as a business. We have a small stage in the back where we host live music (mostly original bands from the area) and we're very involved in community events. As we like to say, we're in the happiness business. No one comes in here to be sad.

We started out eight years ago in a small space inside the Nerd Mall, a pop-culture shop just up the street. That was more a co-op situation, but it was a great place to learn and grow the business. We outgrew that space and have been in our current location for just over five years. In fact, we're having a 5th Anniversary Celebration all day on Saturday, 9/12.

Since we're a relatively small shop, our inventory is highly curated. We clean and inspect every record and CD ourselves, and we don't put out anything we wouldn't buy ourselves.

Used vinyl bins inside On the Record in Woodbury.

Woodbury is a specific South Jersey town - Gloucester County, close enough to Philly to feel that pull but its own real downtown. For someone visiting the shop, what else on S Broad or nearby is worth their afternoon?

We have some really good restaurants downtown (Italian, Chinese, Latin, Pho, Mexican, etc.), as well as some cool antique shops, a reptile shop (Royal Python's Cove) where you can handle snakes, and of course the Nerd Mall, which has thousands of board games, comic books, action figures and vintage video games. And soon, we'll have an independent bookstore next door to us, which we're looking forward to.

Between Woodbury locals, day-trippers from Philly, and the wider South Jersey crowd, you catch a wide mix. Who actually walks in and buys?

We have a lot of collectors from Woodbury and the surrounding area who consider us their "local" shop, and we're grateful for that. We also get a good number of vinyl road-trippers, people who travel from places like Maryland and D.C. to visit all the record stores in this area. We always enjoy chatting with these folks, and learning a little about them.

On the buying side: what genres are you actively hunting for right now, and what do you tend to pass on?

We're always buying punk, metal and reggae, because those seem to be the three hardest genres to find. We don't take in big-band or easy listening (Mantovani), as those genres just don't sell.

What quietly turns out to be worth more at On the Record than sellers expect - a record they'd almost throw in the free pile that you're always glad to see?

I'd say our biggest sleeper is private-press gospel from the '70s and '80s (meaning records that were generally pressed in very small quantities, and not on a major label.) A lot of it is surprisingly funky, and in my opinion, rivals the mainstream R&B/soul of those eras. And in some cases, these records can be quite valuable.

And the reverse - what do sellers most often walk in overvaluing?

Beatles records are usually the records sellers think are worth a lot more than they actually are. I love the Beatles, but most of their original presses I wouldn't sell for more than $20-$25. Of course, there are special/limited edition pressings of their catalog worth much more. Also, just because something is old, doesn't automatically mean it's valuable.

Cash or store credit - how do sellers usually decide, and what's the honest case for one over the other?

A lot of people just want cash for the collections they're selling - in many cases, the collection belonged to a deceased family member, or the seller is downsizing because they're moving. The more serious collector will ask for credit, which can be advantageous to them, because they can trade in records they no longer want in exchange for titles they do want.

What's the wildest single record or collection that's come through the door in Woodbury?

We've picked up collections from a couple hoarder houses over the years, and that is always a strange and unsettling experience. But we remind ourselves we're passing that person's collection on to the next owners.

We just picked up a collection of 3,000+ records from a local collector with very eclectic taste, and since we're a two-person operation, it's been a little overwhelming getting that many records processed and out on the floor. But, we are making progress.

As far as a single record, a very rare blues record by George "Mojo" Buford, who had been one of Muddy Waters' harmonica players, came in the shop a few years ago. It's the only copy of that record I've ever seen, and it sold quickly. I was kind of sorry to see that one go.

Inside On the Record, surrounded by wall displays and LP bins.

FAQ

Who owns On the Record?

The shop is co-owned by the former South Jersey news reporter behind the name and his wife, Michelle Kinsman.

What genres is the shop actively buying?

Punk, metal, and reggae are especially welcome.

What genres does the shop usually pass on?

Big-band and easy listening, including Mantovani, generally do not sell for the shop.

Does On the Record host live music?

Yes. The shop has a small stage in the back and hosts mostly original bands from the area.

Last updated: 2026-08-24

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