The coronavirus pandemic has forced thousands of local businesses to adapt to shelter-in-place restrictions since March.

Record shops throughout the Austin area are no exception, and they are not giving up—especially not on what would have been Record Store Day, April 18.

Eve Monsees, co-owner of Antone's Record Shop, said though Record Store Day is normally in April, it has been tentatively moved to June 20.

"That is the date that has been announced and that they're moving forward with right now," Monsees said, adding people can find more information on the new date at www.recordstoreday.com.

Though no one can enter retail stores in Travis County yet, customers may still support their favorite record shops this weekend and beyond.


End of an Ear Records, a popular shop off Hwy. 71 just south of downtown Austin, is one of the only stores in Austin promoting an actual event this weekend.

Daniel Plunkettm, co-owner of End of an Ear, said his store will be promoting two streaming films on this weekend: "Vinyl Nation," a documentary about the rise of vinyl demand and record collecting, and "Other Music," a documentary about the influential record store Other Music.

More information on that can be found at www.endofanear.com.
Other record stores are not necessarily promoting streamed films or virtual events this weekend, but on at least four other shops' websites throughout the Austin area, customers can still purchase records and other physical media through their websites, including at Waterloo Records & Video, Antone's Record Shop and Breakaway Records.

"Every day is different," Plunkett said. "We just want our staff and customers at the end of this to be healthy and safe. We are doing online [sales] and getting the store ready for the day when this eventually ends. [It] has been hard to do any sort of planning or events. But we will come out the other side of it."


For her part, Mansees said though times have been tough, her customers have still been purchasing records from Antone's.

"We are so appreciative of everyone who has helped support us by buying records online," she said. "We look forward to the day when we can open our doors so customers can browse in person."

To purchase records or view inventory of Austin-area record stores online, click on these links:

Waterloo Records & Video


End of an Ear

Antone's Record Shop

Breakaway Records

Piranha Records