Latchkey

Latchkey began with a strong '80s and '90s personality, then grew into a full-service Philadelphia record store with thousands of records, CDs, VHS tapes, and cassettes packed into a small, highly organized space. The shop now puts physical media first, with friendliness and clear browsing at the center of the experience.

Interview with Latchkey

Latchkey is a full-on love letter to the '80s and '90s — Britney to Das EFX — run by a former DJ. Where did that specific nostalgia-driven vision come from?

The 80s and 90s are always going to be well-represented at Latchkey, but about 2 years ago we expanded to be a full-service record store with everything from the 60s to present, including loads of current releases. We realized that more than music from a specific era, people in our area wanted a full-service record store that was super organized and super friendly, which are our two top priorities. Every artist gets a divider card, and we now have over 5000 records on site in under 1000 square feet. And that's before we get to the 1000+ CDs, 400+ VHS tapes, and 200+ cassettes!

You've got a '90s-style listening station up front and quirky gifts like custom bath bombs alongside the vinyl — how did the shop's whole playful personality come together?

We moved away from non-physical media stuff as well -- bath bombs, action figures, and even tees have gone by the wayside. Our focus now is as much physical media as possible. We're mostly music with a dash of rare and cool movies. We do still have a listening station with our used records, though! We want folks to test anything they'd like. We kept our playful personality, too. We figure if we're having fun, our customers will be, too!

South Philly's got deep record roots — who comes through Latchkey, and how's the East Passyunk scene?

East Passyunk is becoming what I like to call Analog Avenue. We now have 3 record stores within 3 blocks, meaning we have something for everyone. There are also multiple book stores and even an amazing typewriter store! We want to be the first stop for Philly locals and visitors who are on the hunt for physical media.

Our customers are mostly folks under 45 who want to balance their digital lives with a more tangible representation of the music and movies they love most. Of course, we also cater to old-heads like me who love this stuff. We're trying to reach anyone trying to escape the algorithms for a bit.

What's the most valuable or surprising record that's come through the door?

We're still sitting on it and haven't put it out yet, but we have a copy of the "banned" pressing of the Beatles' White Album. There was a US version done at the Scranton plant that was heavily compressed. Apparently, George Harrison heard it and hated it. They tried to scrap all the copies but a handful got out in the wild. And now we have one! Lore like that makes working with used records so fun.

You carry top-quality reissues and are building out your used selection — when someone brings records to sell, what are you looking for?

We now have over 1200 used LPs for sale, so we're feeling like we've matured as a used shop. (Over 700 of our CDs, all of our VHS, and most of our cassettes are used, too!). Our priority is quality -- as a small shop, we're focused on VG quality and above for music from the 60s to the present. If we score something under that, we'll usually price it super cheaply so someone gets a great deal on a slightly imperfect but classic/essential record.

You lean into '80s and '90s hip-hop and new wave — genres that lived on the 12-inch single. Is that where a lot of the good stuff and the value comes through?

While we've expanded past our 80s/90s roots, we do have one of the deeper 12" collections in the city. I've heard vinyl DJs refer to us as a "honey hole," which is definitely a compliment! House, Drum N Bass, Hip Hop, etc - we try to have singles that will get people dancing.

What's the record from that era people are always sure is worth a fortune but usually isn't?

Honestly, it's less 80s/90s stuff and more Sinatra. People assume Frank is worth a fortune, and I get it! He's an icon. But there are a billion copies of a million different versions of his music out there, and it never fetches what people are hoping for -- us or them, lol!

What do people most often get wrong about what their records are worth?

I think people are using tools to correctly gauge their record value very accurately a lot of the time. But sometimes we do have to explain why we can only pay about 40-50% of that value to sellers. The time and resources required for cleaning, pricing, holding, and displaying the record until it sells can add up. So it's less about what a record is worth and more about helping people get a fuller picture of why we have to split the final value with them if we're going to buy it, care for it, and sell it to someone else.

FAQ

Does Latchkey buy records?

Yes. Latchkey buys records and explains offers as a share of the value, accounting for cleaning, pricing, holding, displaying, and selling the record.

What does Latchkey stock besides records?

Alongside records, Latchkey carries CDs, VHS tapes, cassettes, and a selection of rare or interesting movies.

Last updated: 2026-08-12

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