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salvation army suburbs thrift store

Salvation Army, Oak Lawn

21 bins of vinyl…easily the largest collection I’ve seen in a store of this ilk.  And nothing but junk – war torn records, perhaps 1/3rd were empty jackets. I did find a CTI classic (jacket only) and the mandatory Engelbert but nothing else of interest except for a Verve gem which was complete but pretty […]

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record store suburbs

Mile Long Records, Wheaton

Got a tip: My girlfriend lives about a mile from a station on the same line as the Wheaton stop (which turns out to be literally a block away) so we made plans to check it out. We made it down a week later and I was pleasantly surprised by the well kept and clean […]

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savers suburbs

Savers, Downers Grove

Close to a year ago I picked up major scores at this shop while out that way getting my hair cut.  Apparently it had been a while between cuts because I only got back that way now.  Glad I did. My barbershop obsession was well fueled with a classic album I picked up from one […]

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appleton church thrift stores goodwill st. vincent thrift store wisconsin

Appleton Thrift Mania

Downtown Appleton offers a trio of record stores and I’ve already hit most of the thrift stores in the surrounding area.  Still, leaving no stone unturned and no crate un-dug, I trudged on during a more recent trip to revisit some old haunts and see what was left. BETHESDA THRIFT I called in advance to […]

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indiana mix thrift store

Hammond Salvage and Resale [Hammond IN]

                During my second trip to Hammond in about a month, I planned to make time to check out some vinyl in the area.  I initially drove to a Salvation Army in East Chicago – only to find that it was basically a soup kitchen and had no […]

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goodwill suburbs thrift store

Goodwill, Hoffman Estates

Stopped in after spending a hellish week at St. Alexius Hospital down the street.  Had a family member spend 4 nights in there – thankfully they are now resting at home. I had noticed the Goodwill nearly next door early in the week but was not in the mood for record shopping.  Stopped in about […]

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salvation army suburbs thrift store

Lake Forest Run

Found myself up in Waukegan again for the first time in a couple weeks.  This day trip was a fluke; I’m guessing now I won’t be out that way again for a couple years.  Last time it was so cold out I only had time to hit the Salvation Army (which didn’t turn out too […]

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record store suburbs thrift store

Oak Park Run

As often happens to collectors of all sizes and shapes no doubt, after my first visit to Oak Park Records (or should I say my first successful visit) I left a record behind, and it ate at me.  At the time I wasn’t sure if it was legitimately rare, or if it was something so […]

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GR michigan record store

GR Trilogy

Made my 14th trip to Grand Rapids and finally was able to hit up all the record stores the city had to offer.  Some new ones and an (not very) old haunt. After my work was done near Wyoming, I went downtown to have a burger and some chili at Stella’s.  I longed to head […]

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suburbs thrift store toy store

Weathersfield Way Run

I awoke Saturday morning out in Roselle, feeling dejected that I couldn’t go out and look for records. I’ve covered my thrift store run in the area more than once, (most recently on Thanksgiving) and I know that isn’t enough elapsed time for any kind of stock rotation to occur and I don’t feel like […]