Vinyl Cave

Vinyl Cave is the used-music department operating inside Globe News in Superior, Wisconsin, where its original inventory and sign continue a local music tradition. In this interview, the shop explains its broad bins, Twin Ports customers, and the unusual records that surface in collections.

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Interview with Vinyl Cave

Vinyl Cave — records, books, and it sounds like games too. How did that mix come together, and where does the name come from?

The Vinyl Cave was originally in its own location 2 doors down from the Globe News location. When the owner of Vinyl Cave retired, the owner of Globe News absorbed the inventory and kept the music scene going inside of Globe News instead. The Vinyl Cave sign we have hanging in Globe News is more of a reminder of that happening rather than the name of a location anymore. Globe News owns the product and sells it now.

You're in Superior, right on the lake across from Duluth. What role does the shop play in the Twin Ports, and who's coming through?

Globe News has been in business for almost 75 years on the same corner in the heart of Superior. I believe we are the only torch bearer in the Twin Ports area for a used music media scene. We are also the only shop in the area participating in the biannual event Record Store Day which brings in folks from all over both states to check out the exclusive releases.

What's in the record bins — the formats and genres you're strongest on?

We carry almost the entire spectrum of genres when it comes to our vinyl, and we sort them all A-Z based on artist. We also have 2 shelves specifically for our better hits or the $20 and up shelf as our regulars know it by. Our strongest genres are classic rock, punk and our blues/jazz artists.

What's the giveaway that a seller's box is worth real attention?

Classic rock and clean condition is always a great start and worthy of real attention of course!

What do people assume is rare that you actually see all the time?

Elvis and Johnny Cash are what folks always try to use as a baseline for their collection being great or rare. But they’re always a dime a dozen.

What's the sleeper — the stuff that moves better than anyone expects?

The old country genre always moves even if it’s not very popular, along with that I would have to say Chicago!

What's the biggest store-credit tab someone's ever run up with you?

I recall a few years back we wrote a multi-thousand dollar check for a collection of super clean vinyl. Collector type items that we decided to take a gamble on since we don’t see things like this very often and it made our small shop a bit nervous, but it went very well for us resale wise in the end.

Superior winters are no joke, and a lot of collections come out of a cold basement or garage. What condition damage do you see most?

We do see collections in rough condition more often than the nicer ones, but we treat them all the same and go through them just in case. You never know when you find those diamonds in the rough.

What's a record that came in with a real story attached — where did it come from?

One of our employees was gifted a collection of records from their grandmother. In that collection was a self-titled record from the Appleton, WI band Soup, released in 1970. It comes in an unmarked cardboard jacket, a blank label, and no runout matrix info beyond A and B respectively. Included is an insert with the track list and credits, but as this album was not released through a record label, we can only assume that it was sold at their shows, directly to the attending audience!

What's the record people ask for most that you can never keep in stock?

Fleetwood Mac Rumours and Michael Jackson Thriller are the two we ALWAYS hear people are looking for.

Last updated: 2026-09-30

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