Not everything worth listening to comes with a skip button.
April 18, 2026 is Record Store Day, an annual event built around independent record shops and the culture that surrounds them. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008, and was created to celebrate independently owned brick-and-mortar record stores.
Special Offers and More
A big part of Record Store Day is the release of records available exclusively at participating shops. That store-only element is one reason the event draws so much attention from Bergen County music lovers, especially at a time when most listening happens through streaming. Still, vinyl’s staying power is not just about special releases, promotions or nostalgia. According to the RIAA’s 2025 year-end report, vinyl logged its 19th straight year of growth and outsold CDs in units in the United States.
Are You Experienced?
Do you listen to records? Have you stepped into a local Bergen County record shop? There are good reasons people keep coming back to vinyl. Listening this way is more physical and more deliberate. Album covers are large enough to take in, liner notes and credits are right there in your hands, and the format invites you to spend time with an album instead of jumping from track to track. For many listeners, that is the draw. You are not just hearing music. You are choosing it, putting it on, and giving it your attention. It is a full, music lover’s experience you may be missing.
Don’t Just Take Our Word for It
Some of the strongest support for vinyl has come straight from the musicians who make the records. Neil Young has been one of the most outspoken, saying simply, “Old vinyl is great,” while also criticizing digital formats for losing depth compared to analog sound. Jack White, known for The White Stripes and his work with Third Man Records, has long pushed vinyl as a format that connects listeners more directly to music. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana has also spoken about how records encourage people to experience albums as complete works rather than skipping from song to song. Together, those perspectives reinforce what many listeners already feel. Vinyl is not just a format. It is a different way to experience music.
Go Ahead, Judge That Album by The Cover
Album covers have always been part of the experience, not just packaging.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles invites you into its world before the music even starts, with a crowded, colorful collage by Peter Blake that rewards a closer look every time. Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely strips things down, its somber painted portrait by Nicholas Volpe setting a tone that carries straight through the record. Even simpler designs, like The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, or the understated cool of Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, show how powerful a single image can be. More recent releases lean into that same idea. Albums like We Are Sent Here by History by Shabaka and the Ancestors use bold, contemporary artwork to establish a mood before a single note is heard, proving the format still holds up. In every case, the cover is not just something you glance at. It is how the album introduces itself and it’s a wonderful part of the record store experience.
Bergen County Area Record Shops to Check Out
This is a partial list of record shops in Bergen County.Not all of these stores will be offering Record Store Day special promotions.
The Sharp Notes
One Garden State Plaza Blvd, Paramus, NJ 07652
(862) 239 5885
Located at Garden State Plaza, The Sharp Notes offers new and used records, CDs, audio gear, and in-store events. It’s great to see a small record shop thriving at Bergen County’s largest shopping center, and no matter what brings us to the Garden State Plaza, we always make a stop at this wonderful store.
BB’s Records
24 S Front St, 1st Fl, Bergenfield, NJ 07621
(315) 677 1849
BB’s Records is one of our favorite record stores. This Bergenfield shop offers a great selection and there’s knowledgeable music lover running the place! When you visit BB’s, be sure to ask about the legendary English Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer who visits the store from time to time.
EZ2Collect
133 Broadway, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
(201) 791 3833
EZ2Collect claims to carry more than 60,000 CDs, 75,000 LPs, plus DVDs, VHS tapes, posters, memorabilia, and other collectibles. Give yourself plenty of time to flip through the massive selection at this huge store. They have an incredible selection to choose from. We love this place.
This list is probably not complete. Bergen County has more than a few places worth digging through, and we are sure we missed some good ones. If you have a favorite record shop we should know about, share it with us on mybergen.com’s social channels. The more crates to flip through, the better.
A Local Meeting Place for Bergen County Music Lovers
Record Store Day fits with what mybergen.com tries to do every day: point people toward special Bergen County places. These shops are part of that. They are local, independent, and run by people who know what they are selling. You are also likely to end up in a music conversation, whether it is with the person behind the counter or someone flipping through the next crate over. For people who love music, it does not get much better than that.
Enjoy the Experience
Whether you head out for Record Store Day or stop in another time, these shops offer something you cannot get from a playlist. Take your time, flip through the bins, and see what you find.
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