Belltower Records

Belltower Records opened in North Adams in 2018 after Wesley and Andrea acquired inventory from Toonerville Trolley. The shop sits in Norad Mill near Mass MoCA, so art-town traffic and record-store regulars naturally overlap.

The bins move through punk, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, indie, rock, CDs, cassettes, books, and the kind of unexpected used finds that make a small shop feel personal.

Interview with Belltower Records

Belltower opened in 2018 after you and Andrea acquired the inventory from Toonerville Trolley, which had run over 40 years. What was it like taking on that history, Wesley?

In a sense it felt like we were maybe intruding on a local history that meant something to people here, and it was a little daunting at first thinking we might not live up to certain expectations or that we should just be met with skepticism from the start, but while TT wasn’t the local shop we grew up with personally, we had our own beloved locals growing up and coming into it as music lovers and record lovers we did feel confident we could carry on that essence in time.

You're in Norad Mill near Mass MoCA, and you take part in the Solid Sound Festival. How does that arts-heavy corner of the Berkshires shape the shop?

I think the shop is solely shaped by us, but it’s certainly going to parallel what Mass MoCA offers, as we are appreciators of art ourselves and we attract a lot of the same folks who visit the museums here. It just all feeds into each other, maybe we’re a little tributary.

Your bins run punk, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, indie, and rock. What do your North Adams customers reach for most?

Can’t keep the basics of classic rock on the shelves. Can’t believe Rumours is still selling like it does. That’s just the average walk-in, but what I think makes us or any good record store special is the stuff we’re able to offer that runs a little deeper, no matter the genre.

You run a mail-order service and special-order what's not in stock. How big has the mail-order side become?

I think most people are surprised to know that mail-order is probably not even a quarter of business here. I hear that from most shops I ask too. We try to keep the good stuff in the store for people to come in and stumble upon. But then if it sits too long you throw it online and if it’s a good price it’ll go quickly. Unfortunately a lot of what you see offered online is NOT at a good price, and shops start pricing what they have in stock based on those inflated prices. It’s crazy. Everything’s driven up in this false inflated way. I should note that most of what we sell is sold at well below those “median” online prices.

You're actively interested in acquiring quality collections. What makes a collection an easy yes?

Cool records in good condition!

What comes through in western Mass collections that surprises you?

I found a real grail of Swedish psych rock in Western MA (kept it), hardcore punk rarities, wild experimental sounds, freaky Christian commune rock from the 70s…lots of cool people are here so I’m never that surprised at what turns up but I am ALWAYS super super psyched when I see this stuff

What's been quietly strong lately?

Saleswise? CDs

First visit to Belltower — what should someone dig through first?

At any record store, the new arrivals!

Last updated: 2026-08-20

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