Noise & Toys

Noise & Toys in Alpena, Michigan is a northern Lower Peninsula record shop serving locals, regular road-trippers from nearby towns, and summer visitors along Lake Huron. The shop mixes records, CDs, tapes, VHS, stereo gear, and collectible culture, with new arrivals coming in through collections and weekly distributor orders.

Ryan Edmonds says Noise & Toys is moving into a bigger location at 2080 Werth Road in Alpena, with the store leaning even more toward music, stereo gear, and physical media while keeping some of the collector-store spirit that gave it the name.

Interview with Noise & Toys

Noise & Toys in Alpena might be one of the most northern record shops in the Lower Peninsula. What's it like being the vinyl outpost for that stretch of Lake Huron?

We are definitely one of the most northern in the Lower Peninsula. It's cool to be the ones reviving something that hasn't been in this area for so long. The winters are a little rough on business, but the regulars come through whether it's 90 degrees or a blizzard, so have to give it up to them.

Who comes through - locals, summer people, folks driving up US-23?

We have people from all over coming in. There are a lot of locals who have become regulars over the years. The surrounding areas like Gaylord, Oscoda, Alcona, Tawas, etc., which don't have record shops, make the drive to our store every few weeks.

Summer tourism brings a lot of people in. Some of them even claim it's their first stop when they get to Alpena every year.

How do the toys and the noise divide the shop - and do they share customers?

The shop at this point is mostly music-related things. The toys are getting harder to come by these days, and the market is slimming down because most toy collectors are only into certain things.

There's a good mix of people who collect both, though typically one or the other. We're in the middle of moving the store to a bigger and better location on 2080 Werth Road, and aside from a few things the "toys" will now mostly be stereo gear and that sort of thing.

What do your regulars ask for most - and what sells up north that might surprise a downstate shop?

Currently what sells the most is 90s grunge and alternative sort of stuff. All of that is really coming back right now. The amount of times I've been asked for Limp Bizkit has surprised me, haha.

But I'm just happy people are collecting physical media no matter what it is. We sell a wide variety of music though, and quite a bit of metal and hip-hop. I think most people think up north is all country listeners, and that's probably what we sell the least of.

Which section has been quietly strong lately?

This isn't music, but VHS tapes over the last year or so have been huge, and CDs are starting to become a lot more popular again, which is awesome.

If someone in northeast Michigan wants to sell records, what's the best first step - and what makes a collection worth the look?

I would offer a few pieces of advice if you're looking to sell records. First, you have to really broaden your musical tastes. You have to know things you may not like yourself, but for the sake of your customers who do, you have to be on the lookout for it.

Second, just because you see a record sell on eBay for $100+ doesn't mean you're going to get rich off this. There are a lot of times where you'll be making little to no money for days at a time. You need to get through the rough times to enjoy the good times.

Third, always be willing to learn about music and different pressings, their values, what makes them collectible, etc. As far as what makes a collection worth looking at, condition is everything. It doesn't matter how good or how rare your albums are; if the condition isn't there, then the value isn't either.

What condition problems come up most in collections from northern Michigan homes and cottages?

A lot of people around here seem to have left records in their basements or garages for long periods of time, both having humidity and temperature-change issues. So I've seen a lot of mold, torn jackets, records that were just demolished. And it's usually from the people who say, "yeah, they're real clean," lol.

First visit to Noise & Toys - what should someone check first?

I would say first check out our new location on 2080 Werth Rd. in Alpena, MI. But once you're in the store, check out our new arrivals. We are constantly buying collections and ordering from multiple distributors weekly, always have new cool things to flip through.

FAQ

Does Noise & Toys buy used records?

Yes. The shop is constantly buying collections, and condition is the biggest factor when deciding whether a collection is worth pursuing.

What condition problems hurt value most?

Mold, torn jackets, humidity damage, temperature-change damage, and records stored for years in basements or garages can all reduce value sharply.

What sells especially well at Noise & Toys?

90s grunge and alternative are especially strong, with metal and hip-hop also moving well. Ryan notes that country sells less than some people might expect for an up-north Michigan shop.

What formats beyond vinyl are popular?

CDs are becoming more popular again, and VHS tapes have been a strong category over the last year or so.

What should first-time visitors check first?

Start with the new arrivals. Noise & Toys buys collections and orders from multiple distributors weekly, so there are usually fresh records and other physical media to browse.

Last updated: 2026-07-10