Record Store Day Draws Big Crowds to Princeton Record Exhange

A line of more than 250 people snaked down South Tulane Street outside Princeton Record Exchange this morning, full of those eager to snatch up limited edition vinyl only offered to independent record stores on what’s known as Record Store Day.

“I have mp3s for screening music, they’re easy,” said Ryan Elliott of Marlton. “But if I want to buy something, I buy vinyl. It's warmer tones, bigger artwork.”

Elliott’s picked up limited editions of the Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World and Jimi Hendrix.

Celebrated the third Saturday in April, Record Store Day offers hundreds of limited edition albums and 7-inch singles to customers at more than 700 independent record stores across the U.S.- but not at chain or big box stores.

This is the second year that Elliott’s made the trek to Princeton for the event. He said this year the store’s inventory was double what it was last year.

The Princeton Record Exchange has been in business for 31 years and active in Record Store Day since it began, said general manager Jon Lambert.

“We’re so warmed by loyal support over the years, even in this downloading age,” Lambert said.

Vanessa Rotundi of Princeton was at the record store this clutching a list that her fiancée had provided of the list of records he wanted.

Hi top choice? Phish, she said.

Another customer, Michael DeVincenzo of Whippany, said it’s all about  access to rare titles in limited edition.

“Also I just like coming to the Princeton Record Exchange, so it’s my excuse to come,” DeVincenzo said.

Following a hiatus in the 90’s, when some record labels stopped producing vinyl, many have started up again, Lampert said.

And that’s just fine by Gary Zukowski of South River, who said Princeton Record Exchange gives him a feeling of nostalgia.

 “It’s like being a kid in the 80’s and going to the record store and seeing what you can score,” Zukowski said.