Vinyl Chickie

Vinyl Chickie in Glenside is a tightly curated record shop with a quality-first approach and a strong connection to the Philadelphia music community. In the interview, the owner discusses opening fast, supporting local artists, valuing collections, and why physical media still feels urgent.

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Interview with Vinyl Chickie

You spent years photographing artists like Taylor Swift and DJing before opening Vinyl Chickie — and within months it won Best of Philly. How did the shop come together so fast?

My brain works organically. When I set out to do something, I give it 100% and don’t stop until it’s finished. It becomes my #1 priority. It becomes my passion.

You keep the bins tightly curated and near-mint — scratched records go straight to the dollar bin — plus a local Philly section. How did that quality-first, community-first approach take shape?

I have been working with the Philly Music scene through my photography for over 2 decades. I am a huge supporter of local and making sure that artists get recognition and get paid for their hard work. In this day and age, we have to support our community. It’s the only thing we have control over to help.

Glenside's just outside Philly near the Keswick Theatre — who comes through Vinyl Chickie, and how's the local scene?

Record collectors go where the records are. I have regular customers from everywhere. Local and out of town. The local community is huge, and Glenside is a college town. Arcadia is right up the street.

You bought and then sold beloved Philly radio host Pierre Robert's personal record collection, drawing crowds — what was that experience like, and what's the wildest thing to come through otherwise?

That day changed my life completely. Too much to explain. Listen to John Faye’s podcast “Talking at The Diner” and I talk all about my experience.

I get incredible records in weekly.

You did the buying at your old shop for years — when a collection comes in now, how do you approach valuing it?

I learned the business from working at another record store, and through other record shop owners. I fell in love with the business of the record industry. I am really good at retail, and being a business owner.

I do things my way, but owe the knowledge to the teachers that came before me.

You keep everything near-mint — so should sellers clean records before bringing them, and what condition problems send a record to the dollar bin.

No one selling records is cleaning them first. I look for scratches and warps, and keep moldy records out of my store. I tell the sellers this in advance. Most things come in without scratches, I am happy to clean the records. I have the supplies to do it. I like busy work.

Beyond LPs you carry 45s, CDs and cassettes — is there real demand for the smaller formats, and who brings them in?

I sell a LOT of CDs and cassettes. There are shoppers that come in just for 45’s. Physical media is NOW! I like to call it digital detox.

What do people most often overvalue about their records — and what quietly sells better than they'd guess?

Everyone thinks if they have a record that they love and listened to that it is worth something. It is only worth what someone will pay for it.

No rush at all, and feel free to skip anything that doesn't apply or answer in whatever order feels easiest.

Last updated: 2026-09-10

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