Vinyl Chickie, Glenside’s first specialty record shop, is looking to open its doors at 2256 Mt Carmel Avenue in one month.

The store’s grand opening will be held alongside The Dovetail, Align Barre & Fitness, and Bernie’s Herbals on May 17.

Owner Lisa Schaffer, a seasoned vinyl DJ and 2024 Best of Glenside-winning local photographer, says the last of her wish-list—custom-made record shelves—are on their way.

“I worked at a record store for years. Vinyl Chickie is where I want the next chapter of my life to be. I love music,” she said. “I want to be in a place where people come to talk about music. That’s my happy place.”

The store will feature new and used records, new equipment (as opposed to used), 45s, CDs, and cassettes, as well as a listening lounge area and a gift shop.

“Every record is in incredible condition. If things come in and they’re scratched, I’ll put them in a dollar bin,” she said. “I will be buying used vinyl, but they have to be clean and in excellent condition.”

Genres will include (but are not limited to) rock, jazz, reggae, indie, punk, metal, hip-hop, but “no big band or showtunes.”

“I’ll have guitar strings, too, which is unique for this area. We’ll be focusing on local music and local community. I’m hoping to have a DJ booth, which will bring in Philly-area DJs,” Schaffer said. “Through my connection to the Philly music scene, I’ll also be hosting monthly events at the CO Lab to bring music that hasn’t been in Glenside before. I’m thinking sometime in the fall.”

For more about Schaffer and Vinyl Chickie, you can visit her Instagram and Facebook pages.

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