‘Geek about collecting’: Inside Grand Rapids’ newest record shop

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Ben Newsted has around 400 records in his personal vinyl collection, a collection he described as “pretty limited.”

“Just kept my favorite stuff,” he said.

“That sounds like a huge collection to me,” a News 8 crew told him.

“OK, yeah,” he said with a laugh.

Newsted has been collecting records since 2000. Twenty-four years later, he has opened his own vinyl shop, Boomtown Records .

“It was just the novelty of it at first. Nobody really collected records in 2000,” he said. “So a little ahead of the curve there. … I just thought they were cool.”

Boomtown Records, which opened in late July at 1809 Plainfield Ave. near Ann St. in Grand Rapids, opens as the industry sees a boom of its own.

Vinyl records and other physical music format saw a resurgence in 2021, according to the Recording Industry Association of America , a trade organization that represents hundreds of record labels. Vinyl record sales continued to grow last year, with RIAA reporting $1.4 billion in revenue in 2023, a 10% increase compared to 2022. Vinyl albums outsold CDs last year for only the second time since 1987, RIAA says.

Newsted said people like having something physical in a digital world. Plus, he said vinyl has a warmer sound than digital does.

Boomtown Records joins a growing list of spots for Grand Rapids vinyl fans to browse at. Black Dog Books & Records opened this past spring and Vinyl Alchemy and Della Soul Records both opened last year. Vertigo Records in downtown Grand Rapids has been around since 2000, according to its website.

“There’s a nostalgia about listening to an entire side of an album or an entire album, rather than just random songs on there,” Richard App, the retail retention and attraction specialist for the city of Grand Rapids, said. “There’s a little bit that you learn about the artists that way.”

App noted he has his own collection of vinyl records, as a huge music fan himself.

“We’re seeing them in different parts of the city,” he said. “It’s really cool to see those around.”

Newsted said he wants to set his shop apart from the others by focusing on collector pieces, though he still has other options, including $1 records.

“I’m a geek about collecting,” he said. “It juices me up so much when I get an (old) record in that’s in perfect shape. … Because I know that there’s hardly any of them out there anymore. … I love that.”

He isn’t new to selling collectable items. Prior to opening Boomtown, Newsted sold retro video games online.

“That’s just a big part of my childhood. I was pretty obsessed with Nintendo growing up — we didn’t have one, my mom wouldn’t let us have one. So it made me more obsessed about it,” he said with a laugh.

There’s a variety of genres inside the shop, with the biggest emphasis on rock, Newsted’s favorite genre.

“Lots of rock. People mostly like rock, but I have been surprised to see how much people like jazz too. So stocking up on jazz now as well, but I also have R&B, some newer stuff, hip hop, really cool soundtracks, movie soundtracks,” he said.

It makes sense that rock is Newsted’s favorite genre: His uncle, Jason Newsted, used to play bass for Metallica.

“He was a big musical influence on me in the rock genre. I grew up going to Metallica concerts ever since I was 7, from like 7 to age 19,” Newsted said.

Still, his favorite band isn’t Metallica. He said if he had to pick a favorite band, he’s say Weezer.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.