Wyrd Byrd

Wyrd Byrd is an independent shop in downtown Ypsilanti, Michigan, with records, books, zines, and tabletop role-playing games. The shop also hosts and supports local music, literary, and gaming events.

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Interview with Wyrd Byrd

Wyrd Byrd carries records, books, zines, and games — even vintage role-playing games. How did that particular mix come together?

These are all things that I am personally very interested in. From a young age, I loved listening to records, reading fantasy and science fiction, and playing tabletop role playing games. I started getting into zines as a teen because I was going to punk shows and there were lots of them floating around. I've wanted to run a brick and mortar shop for a long time but I could never decide if I wanted to sell books, records, or games. In the end I went with all of the above.

The name and the spelling have real character. What's the identity you've built, and where did it come from?

The word "Wyrd" (pronounced weird) is an old Anglo-Saxon term roughly translating to fate. These days we use the word weird to describe things that are strange so it has two meanings depending on context. I've been called weird for most of my life and the etymology of the word has always intrigued me. When coming up with a name for the shop, it just stood out in my mind to be used. My wife and I own small pet parrots and we are both bird lovers. I have often joked when holding them all that maybe they see me as just this big weird bird. Added the y's and got Wyrd Byrd. When I opened the shop, some folks started referring to it as "word bird" because we carry books. I decided I liked the ambiguity and just wanted folks to call it whatever works for them. When asked, I say "weird bird" but you pronounce it however you like. I've not heard "weird beard" or "word beard" yet but there is still time.

You're in downtown Ypsilanti. What role does the shop play in the Ypsi scene, and who's coming through?

Ypsi is a small city but we have a great local art and music scene. We carry locally created music, books, zines, and tabletop roleplaying games. Over the years we've hosted many events from live music and open mics to book launches and gaming nights. We've helped organize shows for a few touring bands coming through and have also helped coordinate a local music festival. We've also released two records by local artists (Slim To None and Lord Centipede). We've got another record in the works.

Where do records sit among the zines and RPGs — a corner people find, or do diggers come in for it?

The records are the largest part of the shop. We are a TINY store but do our best to carry interesting releases. We are a mix of new and used vinyl. I love buying used records but I also enjoy buying new records because you can pick out what you want. It reminds me of mail-order record catalogs from the 80s. RPGs have grown in popularity and so what we typically see is folks who come in for records but also end up perusing our other stock. It's also common to see couples or groups come in and one person is digging through records while another can be looking through our other stock.

When someone brings a collection in to sell, what tells you it's worth a close look?

Honestly I absolutely LOVE looking through collections and what people want to sell so I almost always take a look. Sometimes it's just Sing Along With Mitch and Christmas records but you never know what you will find. Since I sell a decent amount of punk, metal, psych, prog, etc., I do tend to get some customers looking to trade or sell these same genres. That is always great because these records sell but I find a lot of enjoyment in digging through almost any records.

What quietly sells for more than sellers expect — the stuff they'd almost leave out?

Often sellers tell me about all of the great Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, etc. records they have from when they were young. They often think these records are worth a mint but many of them are not worth a lot. There were so many pressed and they are so common that they are not all that difficult to find. The things that tend to sell for more are things you may not have heard of.

Between records, books, zines, and games, does store credit become a way people keep circulating through everything you carry?

Currently we are still buying used stock outright rather than issuing store credit. This could change in the future but for now we don't have it.

Michigan winters and basement storage aren't gentle on records. What condition damage do you see most?

Basement storage of records in Michigan is definitely a bad idea. This can have a detrimental effect on the covers. Covers tend to bend or records just get mildew and you can smell when they've been sitting in a basement for a long time. Another issue for covers is smoking. If the owner smoked around them for years, they smell terrible. I've definitely passed on records because I didn't think I'd be able to get the smell out completely.

What's the most surprising record you've pulled out of an ordinary-looking box?

I've found a few surprises but one that I remember was a box of pretty normal 70s rock and soul. As I was digging I noticed a strange cover that turned out to be "Spread Love" by Carey Harris and Michael Orr. This copy had some wax dripped on the cover but was otherwise in great shape. I was able to clean off the wax and sold it to a friend for a great price. I still wonder how all the wax got there but can only imagine.

For someone just starting to build a collection, what's your best piece of advice?

You don't need to spend a ton of money! There are plenty of interesting records out there that are still on the cheaper side.

Last updated: 2026-10-18

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